Telangana government set to challenge Godavari River Management Board's objections to projects at Apex Council

Hyderabad: Telangana government is reportedly set to challenge the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) direction to stop construction of all projects on Godavari river in the Apex Council meeting to be held in June. The government has taken a serious note of the Board's objection to the construction of the projects on Godavari. The construction of every project mainly Kaleshwaram is on the river was taken up only after getting required clearances from all Union Ministries including environmental and geological clearances. Officials claimed that all the projects were grounded in undivided Andhra Pradesh and no new such project was taken up by the Telangana government as objected by the GRMB.

The government was arguing that the Board has no extraordinary powers to issue instructions to the member States to stop the works except issuing operatinal orders mainly earmarking water allocations between the States and review whether any State meted out injustice in the release of assured waters.

Official sources said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao held a meeting with Irrigation officials and discussed the necessary steps to be taken to safeguard the State' interests mainly the continuation of Kaleshwaram project works on Godavari.

AP government had recently lodged a complaint with GRMB that Telangana had taken up the Kaleshwaram project without seeking the Apex Council's permission. The Apex Council was constituted under the AP Reorganization Act to address the water disputes between the two States after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

A group of Irrigation officials were preparing detailed note to counter the AP's arguments at the Apex Council which is headed by Union Water Resource Minister and the Chief Ministers as members. The officials said the TS government is ready to furnish all details including DPRs of the projects to the Board.