A Lifeline for Andhra Pradesh Amid Political Disputes And Historical Injustice
The Need for a Lifeline
Andhra Pradesh, a predominantly agrarian state, has long struggled with regional disparities in water availability. Andhra Pradesh, often known as the "Riverine State," is home to a vast network of rivers and lakes. The state has 40 major, medium, and minor rivers, with the Godavari, Krishna, and Pennar being the most prominent among them in peninsular India. Collectively, these rivers carry an estimated 2,765 TMC of water annually, based on a 75% dependable yield. Of the 40 rivers, 15 are interstate rivers, and the water sharing of key rivers like the Krishna and Godavari is governed by the respective Tribunal Awards.
While the Godavari River in the north overflows annually with excess water, southern regions like Rayalaseema remain drought-prone and chronically under-irrigated. The Godavari–Banakacharla Project, envisioned as a major step under the National River Linking Project (NRLP), aims to transfer surplus water from the Godavari River (through Polavaram) to the Krishna basin via the Banakacharla head regulator, which ultimately feeds into the Srisailam reservoir. This ambitious project, proposed in 2024 by the Shri Chandra Babu Naidu-led TDP government, is designed to address persistent water deficits, ensure agricultural expansion, and bring long-term stability to Andhra Pradesh’s water economy.
Polavaram Project: A Pillar of National and Regional Progress
The Polavaram Irrigation Project, also known as the Indira Sagar Multipurpose Project, is the backbone of this larger water transfer vision. Declared a national project in 2014 under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, Polavaram is being constructed across the Godavari River in West Godavari district. Its benefits are far-reaching. The project will irrigate over 7.2 lakh hectares of agricultural land, equivalent to the combined size of Delhi and Bengaluru, providing a significant increase in cultivable land, especially in parched zones such as Prakasam, Nellore, and Rayalaseema.
Apart from irrigation, Polavaram will supply 23.44 TMC of drinking water to nearly 540 villages, generate 960 MW of hydroelectric power, and significantly reduce flood risks during monsoon surges. It also supports navigation by enabling a waterway from Ramagundam to Rajahmundry, integrating inland transport with economic development. The foundation stone was originally laid in 1980, but the project received renewed momentum under Shri Chandra Babu Naidu in 2016, when over 55% of the work was completed within his tenure. The Banakacherla project is not a change to Polavaram’s core structure, but it expands the utility of Polavaram’s existing infrastructure, especially the Right Main Canal (RMC). The project increases the discharge capacity from ~17,500 cusecs to ~38,000 cusecs to transfer the water to Krishna and Penna delta.
The Godavari-Banakacharla Link: Vision and Scale
The Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), estimated at ₹81,900-₹82,000 crore, is a massive 3-basin interlinking scheme designed to channel surplus floodwaters from the Godavari River at Polavaram into the Krishna basin, and then onward to the Penna basin, reaching Banakacherla near Kurnool .
The project comprises three major segments:
Polavaram to Prakasam Barrage: The project begins by enhancing the Polavaram Right Main Canal from 17,500 to 38,000 cusecs to transport water to the Prakasam Barrage near Vijayawada.
Prakasam to Bollapalli Reservoir: Water is lifted via six pump stations into the Bollapalli Reservoir in the Palnadu district, with a gross storage capacity of ~173 TMC. This segment also incorporates potential pumped-storage and solar plants to offset high energy costs (~3,377 MW required).
Bollapalli to Banakacherla via Nallamala Tunnels: Three lifts feed two tunnels (20 km main, 6.6 km twin tunnels) across the Nallamala forest to Banakacherla head regulator. From there, water augments Srisailam’s existing canal network, like the Telugu Ganga canal, SRBC, and the Kurnool-Cuddapah canal. The government here plans to build underground tunnels to avoid disrupting the wildlife in the Nallamalla forest, which also houses the Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), the largest tiger reserve in India.
In sum, PBLP will transport about 300 TMC of water during the ~100-day flood season, at ~2 TMC/day, to irrigate ~12-12.5 lakh hectares, benefitting the most water-starved districts of Rayalaseema, Prakasam, Nellore, and Kadapa .
The project is projected to irrigate an additional 12 lakh acres, potentially increasing the state’s food grain output by over 3 million tonnes annually and significantly improving the rural economy. The Godavari-Banakacharla project, if completed, will reduce dependence on monsoons, promote second and third cropping cycles and generate employment in rural areas.
Political Resistance and Objections from Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh
Despite the wide-ranging benefits, the project has faced opposition from neighbouring states. Telangana alleges that Andhra Pradesh is diverting Godavari water into the Krishna River without obtaining interstate approval. However, experts confirm that AP is utilising surplus Godavari floodwater, which currently flows into the Bay of Bengal unused. Telangana’s objection appears politically motivated, especially considering that no Telangana territory is affected directly by the Polavaram or Banakacharla link.
Odisha and Chhattisgarh have approached the Supreme Court, citing concerns about the submergence of tribal habitations, forest loss, and the impact of backwater effects in their border regions. While rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) remains an important issue, AP has implemented a phased R&R policy for over 1.9 lakh affected people, with financial and land compensation. Experts caution that while these concerns are valid, holding up national-level water transfer projects due to localised objections must be resolved with interstate consensus, not confrontation.
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| Image Credits: The Hindu |
Shri Chandra Babu Naidu: Architect of Modern Water Reforms
Shri Chandra Babu Naidu has consistently prioritised water infrastructure since the late 1990s. During his tenure in United Andhra Pradesh, he launched micro-irrigation schemes and modernisation works on canals. After the bifurcation in 2014, he accelerated the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, completing it in 2016, a record feat that temporarily linked the Godavari and Krishna basins, stabilising irrigation in Krishna and Guntur districts. His current push for the Godavari-Banakacharla project reflects a long-term vision to make Andhra Pradesh drought-resilient, ensure double cropping, and prevent farmer distress. His home district is Chittoor district in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. He represents the Kuppam Assembly Constituency, also located in Chittoor district, and has been elected from there multiple times since 1989.
Central Government’s Role And Future Support
The Centre’s support is crucial for the success of this project. As per the AP Reorganisation Act, the Centre promised to fund 100% of the Polavaram National Project. However, only ₹15,000 crore has been released so far, with ₹3,800 crore in pending dues. Additionally, the promise of Special Category Status (SCS) and industrial packages to AP post-2014 remains unfulfilled, further deepening the state's financial crisis.
Now that TDP is part of the NDA, Shri Chandra Babu Naidu has reopened negotiations, demanding the faster disbursement of the pending ₹3,800 crore from the Centre for Polavaram, Approval of the ₹81,900 crore Godavari-Banakacharla project under the National River Linking Project (NRLP), and extensions of GST compensation, infrastructure grants, and special packages for backwards districts.
Fiscal Stress On Andhra Pradesh & Need For Long-Term Solutions
Andhra Pradesh continues to grapple with a public debt exceeding ₹4.3 lakh crore, a legacy of bifurcation and poor fiscal transfers. The loss of Hyderabad, its former capital and economic centre, dealt a major blow to its financial capacity. Infrastructure development, including irrigation projects like Polavaram and Banakacharla, is the only realistic pathway to stimulate agriculture, increase rural employment, and alleviate poverty, particularly in Rayalaseema and North Andhra.
These regions suffer from low rainfall, poor groundwater recharge, and mono-crop farming, which can be reversed only through assured irrigation and water security. By linking rivers, storing floodwaters, and ensuring year-round water availability, projects like Banakacharla offer permanent relief to millions of farmers.
Conclusion: Time for Political Maturity and National Vision
While the concerns of relocation, compensation, and ecological preservation are valid and must be addressed in parallel, obstructing nation-building infrastructure for political rivalry is counterproductive. Telangana’s objections lack a hydrological basis, as the water in question is surplus Godavari water that would otherwise reach the ocean unused.
As India faces increasing water stress due to climate change, the National River Linking Project is not just an aspirational plan but a strategic necessity. The Godavari-Banakacharla project, led by Andhra Pradesh, should be viewed as a pilot for India’s future river interlinking initiatives. It is now up to the Centre to resolve interstate tensions, ensure financial assistance, and fulfil long-pending promises to Andhra Pradesh.
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