Telangana Minister Blames Previous Government for Polavaram Backwater Risk to Bhadrachalam

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has accused the previous BRS government of failing to protect flood-prone areas in Telangana from the potential backwater effect of the Polavaram project. Speaking in Bhadrachalam on Friday, he said the earlier administration's negligence led to the merger of seven mandals of the erstwhile composite Khammam district and five gram panchayats adjoining Bhadrachalam with residual Andhra Pradesh after the state's bifurcation.

While no flooding has occurred in the Godavari this season due to the likely impact of El Nino, the minister warned that backwater levels could rise 20 to 25 feet above average along the river course from Mulugu to Bhadrachalam in the future. This would pose a serious threat to flood-prone areas in Telangana.

Reddy noted that memoranda submitted by MLAs from constituencies along the river to central agencies had gone unanswered. He stressed that the state is not against the Polavaram project but insists on safeguarding Telangana's flood-prone regions. A delegation of MPs and MLAs, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, is expected to meet central government officials during the Parliament session to press for a re-examination of the issue.

The minister was in Bhadrachalam to review redevelopment and rejuvenation works at the historic Sree Seetha Ramachandra Swamy temple. The state government has sanctioned ₹351 crore for the project, which is being carried out in accordance with Agama Shastras. He directed officials to complete the Uttara Dwaram works before Mukkoti (Vaikunta) Ekadasi in December and all other works before Sri Rama Navami in April next year. He also urged timely completion of the Godavari Pushkar Ghats ahead of the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams, while maintaining high quality standards.