VIJAYAWADA: The Chandrababu Naidu-led Andhra Pradesh government has scrapped the contentious Polavaram-Banakacherla irrigation project, which neighbouring Telangana has been opposing, and is planning a new one by utilising Godavari’s surplus water to make Rayalaseema region drought-free, reports Samdani MN. The Revanth Reddy-led Congress govt in Telangana has claimed the Banakacherla project would deprive it of its rightful share in Krishna and Godavari river waters. It has also said the Polavaram backwaters pose a serious inundation threat for its villages and infrastructure.‘AP probably revisited scheme due to Centre’s reluctance to fund it’ The new project plans to take water from Polavaram to Nallamala Sagar, which is part of the Veligonda project in Prakasam district. The scheme is estimated to cost Rs 58,000 crore as against Rs 90,000 crore required for the Banakacherla project. The water resources department has officially revoked all tenders called for the detailed project report. Sources said Centre’s reluctance to fund the ambitious Banakacherla scheme seemed to have prompted state govt to revisit it. As per the revised plan, the latest draft proposal has suggested pumping of water from the Polavaram project to the Prakasam barrage and from there, a separate canal would be built to link it with the Nagarjuna Sagar’s right canal. Then, water will be taken to Bollapalli reservoir near Vinukonda and from there channelled directly into the Nallamala Sagar reservoir, a key component of the ongoing Veligonda Project. Surplus flows will be diverted to the Somasila reservoir as needed. Banakacherla phase will be considered at a later stage, depending on the completion of the initial phase. The shift reflects a recalibration aimed at accelerating water security for Rayalaseema while avoiding protracted delays and inflated expenses, officials said.