BJP leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy has called on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to abandon the ambitious but contentious Polavaram-Banakacharla Link Project (PBLP) in favor of the Four Water Concept (FWC), a sustainable and budget-friendly alternative pioneered by the late engineer T. Hanumanth Rao. In a letter to Naidu, Reddy, a former Vice Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, argued that the FWC could revolutionize water management in Andhra Pradesh at a fraction of the PBLP’s staggering Rs 81,900 crore price tag.
The FWC, Reddy emphasized, can irrigate 30 lakh acres at a cost of just Rs 4,500 crore—approximately Rs 15,000 per acre—while enabling three crops annually. This is a stark contrast to the PBLP’s hefty financial burden and its complex infrastructure, which involves diverting Godavari floodwaters to the Krishna and Penna basins to irrigate Rayalaseema and parts of Nellore and Prakasam. The FWC relies on localized, low-cost earthen structures like percolation tanks, farm ponds, and trenches to harness rainwater, surface water, groundwater, and soil moisture, promoting sustainable agriculture with minimal environmental disruption.
Reddy reminded Naidu of his own legacy, noting that as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2000, Naidu launched the ‘Neeru-Meeru’ watershed management program, which yielded remarkable results during a severe drought. “You are a visionary leader,” Reddy wrote. “I urge you to revive the FWC, which can deliver triple the benefits of the PBLP at a fraction of the cost.” He highlighted that the FWC could be implemented in just two years, offering a swift solution to Andhra Pradesh’s water woes.
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The PBLP, estimated to cost between Rs 70,000 and Rs 81,900 crore, has sparked fierce opposition from Telangana, which argues it violates the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, and threatens its water security. Telangana’s Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy have repeatedly raised concerns with the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, noting that the project lacks approvals from key bodies like the Central Water Commission and the Godavari River Management Board. Telangana contends that the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal allocated 968 TMCft of Godavari water to the state, and the PBLP’s diversion of 200 TMCft of floodwater could jeopardize its share, as the extent of surplus water remains undetermined.
Adding to the controversy, BRS leader T. Harish Rao accused Andhra Pradesh of pushing the PBLP without necessary permissions, alleging complicity by the BJP-led Centre and Telangana’s Congress government. “This is a conspiracy to divert Telangana’s water,” Rao claimed, vowing to take the matter to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Naidu has defended the project, arguing that it utilizes surplus Godavari water that would otherwise flow into the sea, and he has sought Central funding to make Andhra Pradesh drought-free.
Reddy’s proposal has reignited interest in the FWC, which experts say aligns with sustainable development goals by prioritizing decentralized water management. “The FWC is not just cost-effective but also environmentally sound,” said Dr. Anil Sharma, a Hyderabad-based hydrologist. “It reduces reliance on mega-dams and minimizes interstate conflicts.” However, some analysts argue that the PBLP’s scale is necessary to address Rayalaseema’s chronic water scarcity, a politically sensitive issue for Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party as it seeks to challenge the YSR Congress Party’s dominance in the region.
As Andhra Pradesh awaits the finalization of the PBLP’s Detailed Project Report, Reddy’s call for the FWC has added a new dimension to the debate. With Telangana’s objections and the Centre’s ongoing techno-economic appraisal, Naidu faces a critical decision: embrace a proven, low-cost solution or push forward with a mega-project fraught with financial and political challenges.
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