The Polavaram project is a mere tip of the iceberg of the problems involved in interlinking India’s rivers. Besides complex engineering issues and tribals’ displacement, opposition to it has undergone a complicated political twist in the Telangana-Andhra turmoil. Not only has this led to Hyderabad suffering as the city with most disruptions due to bandhs over the years, it also presents Delhi with a problem that needs solving if the principle of interlinking rivers is to stand.
The manner in which the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill was pushed through in the Lok Sabha on Friday by voice vote, despite the stiff opposition, further complicates the larger issue of a surplus river basin like the Godavari aiding the deficit Krishna basin to better utilise water that flows down the Godavari into the Bay of Bengal. The project, envisaged 70 years back, is a crucial segment of the world’s largest infrastructure project involving 30 river linkages
The BJP government will be well advised to treat Polavaram as a national priority, and to try bring together all the stakeholders immediately to thrash out all issues. Legislation may have been just one priority to smoothen the project’s path. It is more important to get the chief ministers of all affected states and thrash out a broad agreement lest the Godavri waters become just a vehicle for politicians to stoke inter-state emotions. There is a far bigger picture to be seen, but not thrust upon everyone without their concerns being heard and addressed.
