Harish Warns Centre, Says Upcoming GRMB Meeting Undermines Its Authority

Hyderabad: Former irrigation minister and senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao on Friday wrote to Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil seeking urgent intervention under Section 85 of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, to protect Telangana’s legitimate water interests.

In a detailed representation, Harish Rao requested Patil to direct the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) to withdraw Agenda Item No.s 18.3.1, 18.3.6 and 18.3.11 of its proposed 18th meeting, stating that these items sought to reopen and review statutory approvals granted to major irrigation projects in Telangana.

The representation stated that the agenda sought reconsideration of approvals granted to key the Kaleshwaram, Choutupally Hanumantha Reddy, Mukteshwaram, Chanaka-Korata (Rudha), Modikuntavagu, Kadem-Gudem and the Sitarama lift irrigation scheme.

Harish Rao stated that the issue was not merely an inter-state dispute but one concerning the institutional authority, credibility and legal sanctity of the Centre’s own decision-making process.

He pointed out that these irrigation projects had received technical advisory committee (TAC) clearance from the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the ministry of jal shakti after comprehensive technical, hydrological, engineering, environmental and legal scrutiny involving all concerned stakeholders, including the GRMB and the basin states.

Once such approvals are granted by the Centre’s competent authorities, no subordinate body such as the GRMB could assume appellate powers to review, reconsider or seek cancellation of those approvals, Harish Rao said. If the approvals are reviewed in this manner, it would create an unprecedented institutional anomaly and undermine the authority of the Centre’s own technical institutions, he said.