Telangana is strongly opposing Andhra Pradesh's proposed Godavari-Banakacherla (G-B) link project, urging the Centre to reject its Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR). Telangana's Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has formally requested the Union Jal Shakti Minister, C R Patil, to direct the Central Water Commission (CWC) to dismiss the PFR submitted by Andhra Pradesh for the G-B link scheme.

In a letter to the Union Minister on June 13, 2025, Reddy asserted that the proposed scheme violates the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980 and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014. He highlighted concerns that the project could undermine Telangana's water rights and disrupt the fair management of interstate river waters.

Reddy pointed out that during a recent meeting with central government officials, a senior official from the Jal Shakti Ministry mentioned that the PFR is under active consideration by the CWC. Additionally, a Finance Ministry official had requested the Andhra government to submit the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the scheme by the end of June.

The Telangana government is worried because the G-B link scheme lacks any assured water allocation to Andhra Pradesh under the GWDT award. Typically, the CWC rejects PFRs submitted by state governments in such cases and refrains from requesting a DPR. Therefore, Telangana finds it concerning that the Andhra government has been asked to submit the DPR, implying that the underlying PFR has been approved.

Reddy has requested the Union Minister to instruct the CWC to reject the PFR currently under review and to prevent the Andhra Pradesh government from submitting the DPR or taking any further action, including awarding tenders.

The Andhra Pradesh government's Polavaram-Banakacherla link project aims to divert 200 TMC of water from the Godavari River to the Banakacherla Regulator through open canals, lifts, underground pipelines, and tunnels via the Nallamala hill range. This initiative intends to interlink the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers, providing drinking water to approximately 8 million people, irrigating 3 lakh hectares of new agricultural land, supplementing 9.14 lakh hectares, and allocating 20 TMC of water for industrial use. The project is estimated to cost Rs 80,112 crore.

Andhra Pradesh believes that the Godavari River has surplus water for 90-120 days annually after meeting upstream and downstream needs. The success of the scheme relies on a transit balancing reservoir at Bollapalle hill series of Palnadu District, with a capacity of 150 TMC. The project's primary goal is to supply water to water-deficit districts in the state, particularly the Rayalaseema region, which lies in the Pennar River basin.

Telangana has raised concerns about the project's potential impact on its own projects on the Godavari River, leading to interstate disputes over water usage and rights. Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has asserted that the state government will continue to fight against Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram-Banakacherla link project. He stated that Telangana would suffer if the Banakacherla project is constructed and has taken up the issue with the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Central Water Commission, and the Apex Council, alleging violations of established procedures and interstate river water-sharing agreements.

BRS MLA T Harish Rao has also criticized the G-B link scheme, claiming it undermines Telangana's rightful share of Godavari river water and accusing the Congress government of not taking sufficient measures to prevent Andhra Pradesh from proceeding with the project. Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has dismissed these claims as baseless and misleading.