Telangana Government's Double Standards on Polavaram-Banakacherla Project: Kavitha Slams State Government

Telangana Jagruthi president Kavitha has criticised the state government for allegedly adopting a double standard on the Polavaram-Banakacherla link project. Responding through a post on X, she said the government's contradictory stand had once again come to light. While officials have reportedly urged the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) meetings to consider the Godavari-Cauvery river-linking project from Sammakka Sagar (Tupakulagudem), Chief Minister Revanth Reddy allegedly expressed support for the Polavaram-Banakacherla link project at a Southern Zonal Council meeting chaired by the Union Home Minister. Kavitha questioned the government's understanding and policy on river water utilisation. She recalled that Telangana Jagruthi had opposed the proposed project in 2024, stating that it would affect Telangana's water rights. She also alleged that handing over Telangana's rightful share of 250 TMC of Godavari water to Andhra Pradesh would harm the state's interests.

Kavitha further alleged that Revanth Reddy had supported the Polavaram-Banakacherla project during a meeting between the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, convened under the Union Jal Shakti Minister, and subsequently made misleading statements to the media. She claimed that the Andhra Pradesh government was now pressuring the Centre to include the project as part of the river-linking initiative with the Telangana Chief Minister's approval. Urging the state government to reconsider its position, Kavitha demanded that Telangana withdraw from all consultations initiated by the Centre on the project. She also called on Revanth Reddy to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding that the proposed project be stopped in order to safeguard Telangana's water rights.