Hyderabad: Former Telangana minister T. Harish Rao has launched a scathing attack on the Central Government for supporting Andhra Pradesh’s proposed ₹80,000 crore Banakacherla project, accusing it of bypassing legal procedures and compromising Telangana’s water rights.
In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, Harish Rao alleged that the project is moving forward without the necessary approvals from the River Management Boards, as mandated by the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Despite this, the Central Government has reportedly agreed to fund 50% of the project and allowed Andhra Pradesh to raise the remaining funds beyond its FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) limits.
Calling it a “betrayal of federal fairness,” Rao criticised the Centre for applying different standards to Telangana. “When Telangana sought assistance for the Kaleshwaram project, it faced stringent financial restrictions. But Andhra Pradesh is being given a free pass for Banakacherla,” he said.
He also questioned the utility of Telangana’s political representation in Delhi, pointing to the silence of the State’s eight BJP and eight Congress MPs, as well as its two Union Ministers. “What’s the point of having representation if they fail to defend the State’s interests?” he asked.
Turning his criticism towards the Telangana Government, Rao accused it of passive complicity. “This is more than just negligence. It is a total failure of political leadership. The government has neither raised objections nor made any legal challenge,” he said.
Drawing parallels with the earlier Pothireddy Padu project, which diverted Krishna waters during the united Andhra Pradesh regime, Rao warned that history was repeating itself—this time with the Godavari River, and once again under Congress rule.
With the upcoming NITI Aayog meeting, he called on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to raise the issue forcefully at the national level. “He must demand an immediate halt to the Banakacherla project. Telangana’s share of river waters must be protected. The people expect leadership, not silence,” Rao asserted.
