New Delhi: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said he is willing to initiate talks with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to resolve the ongoing dispute over the Banakacherla project. He said the issue could only be settled through mutual dialogue.
Speaking informally to reporters during a visit to Delhi, Revanth Reddy said the dispute began after Andhra Pradesh submitted a pre-feasibility report (PFR) for the Banakacherla project on the Godavari river to the Centre. According to him, the controversy could have been avoided had the Andhra Pradesh government consulted Telangana before approaching the Centre.
He said the Centre moved swiftly to take up the project after receiving the PFR from Andhra. Water sharing disputes between the two states have persisted for years, he said, and must be resolved project-wise through discussions between the respective chief ministers.
Revanth Reddy said the Telangana government is prepared to engage in talks on any such matter with Andhra Pradesh, and he is open to discussions even if they stretch over several days. He emphasised that only legal and technical scrutiny through bilateral dialogue can bring resolution to inter-state water issues.
He said he has no hesitation in addressing disputes and clarified that the matter involves two states, not just two individuals. He added that under the AP Reorganisation Act, any changes to projects must be disclosed, and previous discussions at the chief ministerial level had taken place under the same law.
Revanth Reddy said the Banakacherla issue will be discussed during the Telangana Cabinet meeting on June 23, following which the government will formally invite Andhra Pradesh for talks. If required, he said he would personally contact Naidu to initiate the process.
He asserted that Telangana’s interests will not be compromised for the sake of others.
Revanth Reddy also accused the BJP and BRS of working together to weaken the Congress in Telangana. He alleged that BJP state president and Union minister Kishan Reddy was functioning as a liaison officer for BRS working president K T Rama Rao, calling the latter his “private tuition master.” He said the alliance between the two parties led to BRS’s defeat in Medak and claimed the BRS handed over its organisational resources to BJP after losing the Assembly polls, which enabled BJP’s success in eight Lok Sabha seats.
