A view of the escape route of the Polavaram project. | Photo credit: RAO GN
HYDERABAD
Ahead of a January 30 meeting with top officials of Andhra Pradesh’s water resources department, the Telangana government had earlier this month sent a letter to the secretary of the Jal Shakti ministry seeking directions to AP to stop “illegal construction and preparation of detailed project report (DPR) of the Polavaram-Nallamalasagar/LP/PBLP Project” (PNL/PBLP Link Project).
In a letter to MOJS Secretary VL Kantha Rao, Telangana Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Rahul Bojja sought strong action against AP for going ahead with PNLP/PBLP in violation of Central Water Commission (CWC) guidelines. He reminded the former that Telangana had rejected the inclusion of PBLP/PNLP in the agenda for setting up a committee of officials to discuss contentious river water issues.
The Telangana official said that the state objected to the inclusion of PBLP/PNLP in the program before and during the meeting of officials and chief ministers of the two states on July 16, 2025. However, the state of AP is proceeding with the illegal activity of construction and preparation of DPR against the directions of the MoH.
(Interestingly, while Telangana denied discussing PBLP/PNLP in the July 16 meeting, the AP Water Resources Minister said the matter was discussed and the committee then suggested continuing discussions on PBLP/PNLP and other contentious river water issues between the two states.)
Telangana sent a final letter on December 23 suggesting to the official committee members (to meet on January 30) to resolve other water issues. “Furthermore, it is understood that AP is proceeding with the preparation of the DPR PBLP/PNLP and CWC is proceeding with the evaluation of its Preliminary Feasibility Report (PFR), which is one of the major concerns raised by Telangana,” Mr. Bojja said in the letter, adding that “the process is leading to a finished project situation as far as the project is concerned”.
He made it clear that the Telangana government is bound to inform that it will attend the meeting of the committee of officials of both the states headed by the CWC chairman only if the process of preparation of DPR PBLP/PNLP and its illegal construction by AP and the process of evaluation of PFR by CWC is stopped/stopped.
The Telangana Corporation also reserves the right to pursue legal remedies available to it in the matter, the Principal Secretary (Irrigation) said.
Published – 17 Jan 2026 18:59 IST