Vijayawada: The central government has returned to Andhra Pradesh its proposal for grant of ‘Terms of Reference’ (ToR) to take up an environmental impact study on the proposed Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, and sought clarifications on certain issues.
Union minister of state for environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh, informed this to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
He was replying to an unstarred question from YSRC MP Golla Baburao, asking whether Andhra Pradesh government had submitted a proposal for clearance for Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project and whether any complaints were received on the project from any side, like it was violating the award of Godavari Tribunal-1980.
Vardhan Singh said, “The ministry had received a proposal dated 05-06-2025, seeking grant of Terms of Reference (ToR) for undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the proposed project. The proposal was appraised by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydro-electric Project in its meeting held on 17-06-2025. It recommended that examination by the Central Water Commission on inter-state issues and grant of necessary clearance/permission/NoC is required before submission of the project proposal for framing ToR for conducting the EIA study.”
”Further, the EAC noted that several representations have been received via email, alleging that the proposed project may be in violation of the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal Award, 1980.”
“Accordingly, the proposal has been returned to the project proponent, namely Andhra Pradesh, as per recommendations of the expert appraisal committee.”
In response, AP’s water resources superintendent engineer (Pulichintala) Ramachandra Rao said, “The Union ministry of environment has returned our proposal for grant of terms of reference on certain grounds. We have sent a pre-feasibility report on the PBLP to the Central Water Commission and it is seeking several clarifications on the project and we are responding to it. Once the CWC approves the pre-feasibility report, we will send a fresh proposal for grant of terms of reference to the Union ministry to go ahead with the execution of the project.”
Meanwhile, AP says it is a common practice with the Union ministry of environment to return proposals for grant of ToR for several irrigation projects, including Palamuru in Telangana state, to get approval from the CWC for PFR before getting ToR.
The AP government has proposed the PBLP with an aim to divert 200tmc of Godavari river’s surplus water to Rayalaseema region to meet the drinking water and irrigation needs of the people at an estimated cost of Rs 81,800 crore.
The project is expected to provide drinking water to nearly 80 lakh people, while nearly 7.41 lakh acres are to be brought under cultivation afresh. This is apart from stabilisation of the aayacut in 22.58 lakh hectares, besides getting 20tmc water to meet the industrial needs and to help overcome drought.
Infographics:
AP has proposed the PBLP at an estimated cost of Rs 81,800 crore and the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar Link Project at a cost of Rs 58,700 crore in phase-1
Once the PBLP gets the Centre’s nod for execution, it applies to the PNLP under phase-1 also with no need for a separate approval
As nearly 3,000tmc of Godavari water goes waste into sea every year, AP intends to utilise 200tmc water per annum for PBLP.