AP Govt Rejects Revanth Reddy’s Claim on Rayalaseema Lift Halt
Reiterating its position, the Andhra Pradesh government made it clear that there would be no compromise on the state’s water rights or on irrigation benefits for Rayalaseema.
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has firmly rejected Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s assertion that the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh halted the Rayalaseema Lift Project to protect Telangana’s interests, calling the remarks “factually incorrect and misleading”.
Responding to statements made by Revanth Reddy, the AP government clarified that his claim—that the project was stopped at his request and out of “respect” by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has no basis in truth. Officials said the project’s suspension had nothing to do with the present government’s decisions or political considerations.
The state government pointed out that during the tenure of former chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Rayalaseema Lift Project was taken up without obtaining mandatory statutory approvals. Despite large-scale publicity claiming that three TMC feet of water per day would be supplied to Rayalaseema, works were initiated without clearances, it said.
According to the AP government, it was the Telangana government that challenged the project during the previous regime, filing cases in courts and lodging complaints with the Centre and the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Following these complaints, authorities examined the matter and ordered a halt to the works due to the absence of requisite permissions.
The government noted that as early as 2020, directions were issued by the NGT and the Union government regarding the project. It further asserted that the Centre had stopped the works well before the Chandrababu Naidu-led government assumed office in 2024.
Accusing political forces in Telangana of trying to derive mileage by running state politics in a “Chandrababu-centric” manner, the AP government said such narratives were being pushed by both ruling and opposition parties there for political gain.
Reiterating its position, the Andhra Pradesh government made it clear that there would be no compromise on the state’s water rights or on irrigation benefits for Rayalaseema. It said it would soon place all facts, supported by documentary evidence, in the public domain regarding the project’s initiation, lack of approvals and the reasons behind the suspension of works.
