Senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader T Harish Rao has leveled serious allegations against the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Andhra Pradesh government concerning the diversion of water from the Godavari river. Rao claims the CWC granted permission to Andhra Pradesh to divert a substantial 200 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water, following a controversial renaming of a key link project.
The Allegation: A Renamed Project and Swift Approval
Harish Rao, the former irrigation minister of Telangana, stated that the Andhra Pradesh government changed the name of its proposed link project from Banakacherla to Nallamala Sagar. He alleges that despite this change, the CWC granted approval for the water diversion. Rao emphasized that this critical permission was issued just 15 days after an apex council meeting held in Delhi in July 2025, which was attended by the chief ministers of both states.
"The attempt to loot Godavari water via Banakacherla has now shifted to Nallamala Sagar to minimise legal risks for Andhra Pradesh. Whether it is Banakacherla or Nallamala Sagar, the ultimate victim is Telangana," Rao asserted during a press conference in Hyderabad on Tuesday. He released documents to support his claims, accusing the incumbent Telangana government of being either unaware of the permission or deliberately silent.
Political Accusations and a Cover-Up Charge
The BRS leader launched a sharp political attack, holding Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu responsible as the "mastermind" behind the alleged illegal construction of Nallamala Sagar. He further accused Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of acting as a "puppet" in the matter. "The sword belongs to Chandrababu, but the one stabbing Telangana is Revanth Reddy," Rao said.
He also targeted Telangana's Irrigation Minister, Uttam Kumar Reddy, alleging that the minister released backdated letters to cover up his failures. Rao claimed that despite BRS warnings to avoid meetings outside the apex council framework, the minister attended the Delhi meeting and signed the relevant documents.
Bypassing Water-Sharing Rules and Demands for Action
Harish Rao explained the strategic reason behind the project's renaming. He alleged that by linking the project to the Penna basin instead of the Krishna basin, Andhra Pradesh aims to circumvent the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal award. This award mandates a specific water-sharing ratio of 45:21:14 among Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra if Godavari water is diverted to Krishna. The shift to Penna, Rao claims, is a tactic to "loot" water without allocating Telangana its rightful share.
Rao confirmed that the BRS had exposed the meeting's agenda to counter the Telangana government's claim that Banakacherla was not discussed. He noted that Andhra Pradesh's Irrigation Minister, Nimmala Rama Naidu, admitted to forming a committee to realize the project.
As a course of action, Harish Rao demanded the immediate removal of irrigation advisor Adityanath Das and three other Andhra-origin members from the relevant committee. He urged the Telangana Chief Minister to pass a formal resolution opposing the Godavari-Nallamala link and challenged him to join a protest in front of the CWC office in Delhi if he had "any love for Telangana."
