Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will meet Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil in Delhi on July 16 to discuss the proposed Godavari-Banakacherla linkage project.
The meeting, rescheduled from July 11 at the CMs’ request, is set for 2:30 pm at Shram Shakti Bhavan, the ministry’s headquarters. The Jal Shakti Ministry has asked both states to submit agenda points, including those related to Banakacherla, through their chief secretaries and CMO offices.
While Andhra Pradesh has proposed the project to harness surplus floodwaters from the Godavari—which it says are going unused and draining into the sea—Telangana has strongly opposed the plan.
Chandrababu Naidu earlier said he had no objection to Telangana using these waters but argued that building infrastructure to capture and redirect them was in the broader public interest. He also stated that such matters should be resolved in the presence of the Centre.
The meeting comes amid questions over whether it will be treated as a formal Apex Council session. As per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, all new inter-state water projects must be discussed in the Apex Council, chaired by the Union minister with both CMs as members.
The Godavari-Banakacherla linkage has triggered concerns in Telangana, with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy already petitioning the Centre to deny clearances, citing environmental and regulatory objections.
Officials believe Wednesday’s discussions may also touch on the relocation of the Krishna River Management Board to Vijayawada and other pending water-sharing issues.
