Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar link targets Godavari water diversion, Telangana alleges

Hyderabad: Telangana alleged that the Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar link was only a renamed version of the earlier Polavaram–Banakacherla proposal and aimed at diverting Godavari waters while undermining the state’s water rights.

Officials and irrigation experts said the change in nomenclature masked the same objective of legalising unauthorised structures and facilitating large-scale water diversion. They argued that although Andhra Pradesh projected the plan as a new proposal, the alignment up to Bollapalli remained unchanged.

According to Telangana’s assessment, the proposal retained the original plan to move Godavari floodwaters from Polavaram to Prakasam Barrage and then to the Bollapalli reservoir. From there, the route shifted towards Nallamala Sagar instead of Banakacherla, but the volume and intent of diversion stayed intact.

They said Andhra Pradesh continued to pursue the same water transfer strategy under different project names. As a result, Telangana feared long-term damage to its rightful share of Godavari waters.

Polavaram Nallamala Sagar link and future diversion plans

Telangana alleged that the Polavaram Nallamala Sagar link served as a stepping stone for future inter-basin transfers. Officials pointed out that Andhra Pradesh earlier proposed moving water from Bollapalli to Banakacherla and further to Somasila in the Pennar basin.

They said the revised proposal claimed diversion of only 50 TMC, but retained infrastructure designed for much higher volumes. Consequently, Telangana argued that the state was preparing to divert up to 200 TMC from the Godavari basin to the Krishna and Pennar basins in phases.

Officials also flagged the Centre’s long-standing National Perspective Plan, which envisaged transferring 148 TMC of Godavari water to the Cauvery basin under the Godavari–Cauvery river link. They said Andhra Pradesh was using the Polavaram Nallamala Sagar link to revive that plan indirectly.

According to Telangana, water routed from Bollapalli could eventually reach Somasila and move further south through existing canal networks. They said this would complete the Godavari–Cauvery linkage, leaving Telangana at risk of severe water loss.

The state further alleged that Andhra Pradesh had already invited tenders for detailed project reports despite objections from co-basin states and central agencies. Telangana maintained that merely changing the project name from Polavaram–Banakacherla to Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar did not alter its impact.

Officials said both proposals followed the same canal alignments, lift systems and reservoir capacities. Therefore, they argued that the Polavaram Nallamala Sagar link posed a direct threat to Telangana’s water security and required immediate scrutiny by the Centre