Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has made a strong appeal for unity between the two Telugu states, urging them to set aside political differences and collaborate on crucial water-sharing and river interlinking projects. This call comes at a critical juncture, with the Supreme Court actively hearing a plea from the Telangana government seeking to halt expansion works related to the Polavaram project.
A Plea for Cooperation Amid Legal Battle
Speaking at the 3rd World Telugu Conference in Guntur on Monday, January 5, 2026, Naidu emphasized that vast quantities of water from the Godavari and Krishna rivers are wasted annually, flowing into the sea. He asserted that ambitious projects like the Polavaram dam and the Krishna-Godavari linkage are essential to solving India's persistent water scarcity issues. Naidu stressed that unity among Telugu people is fundamental for the progress of both the language and the community, and political hostility should not obstruct vital development work.
His speech followed a significant political move a day earlier. On Sunday, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy met with senior advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi in Mumbai to strategize for the ongoing legal battle in the Supreme Court.
The Core of the Supreme Court Dispute
The apex court is currently examining Telangana's petition, which argues that the Andhra Pradesh government proceeded with plans to link the Polavaram project to Banakacherla or Nallamala Sagar without obtaining necessary permissions. This proposed linkage is a central point of contention between the two states.
In a bid to ease tensions, the Andhra Pradesh government, in November last year, proposed a new initiative. It suggested diverting surplus Godavari waters to the drought-prone Rayalaseema region and officially cancelled the earlier Polavaram-Banakacherla link project, which Telangana had vehemently opposed. The cancelled project aimed to divert 200 TMC of Godavari floodwater from Polavaram to the Banakacherla regulator in Kurnool district.
Expert Committees and a Withdrawn Tender
The water dispute had escalated to a point where the Central government intervened in July. Following a meeting between Naidu, Reddy, and Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, the Centre decided to form two separate expert committees. These committees, comprising technical officials and representatives from both states and the centre, were tasked with resolving the water-sharing disagreements.
Subsequently, in a confidence-building measure, the Naidu government withdrew a tender notice it had issued on October 11. This tender was for preparing a detailed project report (DPR) on the very Polavaram-Banakacherla link that Telangana opposed. Officials from the AP Water Resources Development Department clarified that the new focus is on a project to transfer water from Polavaram to the Nallamala Sagar, which falls under the Veligonda Project in Prakasam district.
Chief Minister Naidu reiterated that the Andhra Pradesh government's intent is to avoid controversy and foster a cooperative relationship with Telangana. The developments underscore the complex interplay of regional politics, resource management, and legal oversight in resolving inter-state water disputes in India.
