Parliament Question: Environmental Clearance to Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2379 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025 Environmental Clearance to Polavaram– Banakacherla Link Project

2379. DR. MALLU RAVI:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to

state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) refused to grant Environmental Clearance for the 'Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project' proposed by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, citing violations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award and a lack of inter-State consultation, as strongly argued by Telangana;

(b) the final directive given by the Central Government to Andhra Pradesh, following the EAC's recommendations and the subsequent withdrawal of the project proposal in November 2025; and

(c) the details of the mechanisms implemented/proposed to be implemented by the Central Government to ensure that no State can proceed with planning or construction of inter- State water projects without prior statutory clearance from the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the relevant River Management Boards? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (b) : The Ministry had received a proposal (Proposal No. IA/AP/RIV/540417/2025), dated 05.06.2025, seeking grant of Terms of Reference (ToR) for undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the proposed Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP). The proposal was appraised by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydro-electric Projects in its meeting held on 17.06.2025. The EAC has recommended that examination by Central Water Commission (CWC) on inter-state issues and grant of necessary clearance/ permission/ NoC is required before submission of the project proposal for framing the TOR for conducting EIA study. Accordingly, the proposal was returned to the Project Proponent as per the recommendations of the EAC.

(c) The prior Environmental Clearance (EC) is mandatory for undertaking construction of River Valley & Hydro-electric Project, under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, as amended. The clearance/permission from the Central Water Commission (CWC) in respect of hydrology, layout configuration, techno-economic clearance etc. is the essential pre-requisite for consideration and grant of prior Environmental Clearance to the project.

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