CM Naidu pushes for Godavari-Cauvery link

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has indicated that the state will consider Tamil Nadu’s request for additional Krishna water to meet Chennai’s drinking water needs while balancing the needs of Andhra Pradesh and also pitched the Godavari-Cauvery river-linking project as a long-term solution to water scarcity in southern India.

Naidu held talks with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay at his residence in Undavalli on Tuesday. The meeting, which lasted for about an hour and a half, covered Chennai’s drinking water requirements, inter-state water issues and proposals to divert surplus Godavari flows to water-deficit regions.

Tamil Nadu has sought increased releases through the Telugu Ganga project, which supplies Krishna water to Chennai. Against an annual requirement of 12 thousand million cubic feet (TMC), Andhra Pradesh has supplied 4.08 TMC this year. Naidu indicated that the request would be examined favourably to the extent possible, balancing Tamil Nadu’s needs with Andhra Pradesh’s own water constraints.

After the meeting, Naidu said on X that Andhra Pradesh remained committed to supporting its neighbouring state despite its own water limitations. He stressed that water should be a source of cooperation rather than conflict and called for coordination among states with the support of the Union government.

The two Chief Ministers also discussed the proposed Godavari-Cauvery interlinking project, which Naidu said could help address water shortages, transform agriculture and benefit lakhs of farmers across southern India. Under Andhra Pradesh’s proposal, Godavari water would be diverted towards the Krishna River and carried to Bollapalli, with a further link proposed from Bollapalli to Banakacherla and subsequently to the Penna River. Naidu said the state had submitted river-linking proposals to the Centre and neighbouring states, and that implementation would require their cooperation.

Naidu and IT minister Nara Lokesh welcomed Vijay at the Undavalli residence, presenting him with a bouquet and a Mangalagiri shawl. Ministers and other leaders participated in the discussions.

Vijay also joined Naidu at Vijayawada Utsav in the city. The visit brought Chennai’s immediate drinking water requirements and the longer-term prospects of interlinking rivers into the same set of discussions.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K Varaprasada Rao

K Varaprasada Rao[email protected]

K Varaprasada Rao is a Senior Reporter with The Hans India, covering the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat, Chief Minister's Office (CMO), State Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council and political affairs. With over 20 years of experience in journalism in Andhra Pradesh, he has extensively reported on governance, public policy, politics, and socio-economic issues that shape the state's development and influence the country's evolving landscape. He holds a postgraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His reporting focuses on finance, industries, irrigation, agriculture, infrastructure, investment, public administration, and political developments, with a particular interest in analysing their long-term economic and social impact.

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