Godavari-Banakacherla Project

The Godavari-Banakacherla Water Project is in the news due to the dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

About Godavari-Banakacherla Project

• Introduction: It is a proposed multi-phase irrigation and water resource management project being developed by the Andhra Pradesh government.
• Objective: The main objective of this project is to use the surplus flood water of the Godavari River.
  • On an average, more than 3,000 TMCft (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the Godavari River flows into the Bay of Bengal every year without being used.
  • Under the proposed scheme, 200 TMCft of water will be used to meet irrigation, drinking water and industrial needs.
• Structure of the project: This is a three-phase project-
  • Water transfer from Polavaram to Prakasam Barrage
  • Water transmission from Prakasam Barrage to Bollapalli reservoir
  • Water supply from Bollapalli to Banakacherla (Rayalaseema region)
• Implementation of the project
  • Preliminary Project Report has been submitted to the Central Water Commission (CWC).
  • Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be submitted after preliminary approval.
  • This project will be implemented only after getting the approval and environmental clearance of the Central Government.
• Benefits: Successful implementation of this project can improve the water problem of Rayalaseema and other dry areas to a great extent.

Importance of the project

The Godavari-Banakacherla project is not only a developmental scheme of Andhra Pradesh, but can also become a model for conservation and redistribution of national water resources, if it is implemented scientifically, transparently and in accordance with federal norms.

Reason for the recent controversy

• Some Telangana politicians have accused Andhra Pradesh of using Godavari water without their consent, calling it ‘water robbery’.
• The Andhra Pradesh government says that it is surplus water that enters Andhra Pradesh after Telangana’s requirements are met and hence it has the legal right to use it.