Tue Jun 24 20:05:23 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article adaptation:

**Summary:**

A new dispute has ignited between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, which aims to divert Godavari River water to drought-prone regions of Andhra Pradesh. Telangana objects, claiming the project violates their riparian rights and provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Political parties in Telangana are pointing fingers at each other for allowing the project to progress. The central government’s support for Andhra Pradesh, due to the Telugu Desam Party’s alliance with the BJP, is further fueling the controversy. Telangana is concerned about potential future water re-allocation and accuses Andhra Pradesh of jeopardizing Telangana’s water rights. Andhra Pradesh argues that ample surplus water exists in the Godavari, while Telangana questions their past objections to the Kaleshwaram project. Engineers are urging the Centre to protect Telangana’s interests before approving the project.

**News Article:**

**Water War Erupts Between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Over River Diversion Project**

**Hyderabad/Amaravati, June 25, 2025:** A fresh controversy is brewing between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, a massive undertaking to divert 200 TMC ft of Godavari River water to Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna and Penna basins. The project, intended to alleviate water scarcity in Andhra Pradesh’s Rayalaseema region, has sparked outrage in Telangana, with political parties trading accusations of betraying the state’s interests.

The Andhra Pradesh government has submitted its pre-feasibility report to the Central Water Commission (CWC) and has been asked to provide a detailed project report. The central government has offered to fund 50% of the ₹80,000 crore project.

Telangana’s ruling Congress party and the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) claim the project infringes on Telangana’s riparian rights and violates the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014. They accuse the Andhra Pradesh government of attempting to establish future water rights claims through the diversion.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy have blamed the previous BRS government for allegedly greenlighting the project in initial discussions. However, the BRS has countered that they raised objections to the diversion without proper consultation.

Former Telangana Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao accused the Congress government of a “soft approach” to the project, alleging that it mortgaged Telangana’s water rights as payback to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Andhra Pradesh, meanwhile, defends the project, arguing that the Godavari has surplus water that currently flows into the sea. Chandrababu Naidu insists his state needs the water for irrigation and drinking water. Telangana questions why Andhra Pradesh objected to the Kaleshwaram project if there was indeed sufficient water in the river.

Experts are calling on the central government to ensure Telangana’s existing water rights are protected before appraising the project. The Telangana Retired Engineers’ Association suggested allocating an additional 200 TMC ft of water in the Krishna basin to compensate for the diversion.

The dispute highlights the complexities of inter-state water sharing in India, a sensitive issue deeply intertwined with regional economies and sentiments. Observers are watching to see how the central government navigates this latest water conflict.

Read More