Andhra Pradesh government dismisses Telangana CM Revanth Reddy’s claim on the Rayalaseema Lift Project, saying the halt was due to lack of statutory approvals.

The Andhra Pradesh government on Sunday firmly denied Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s assertion that the Rayalaseema Lift Project was halted at his request. The Andhra Pradesh Government termed the statement misleading, saying the suspension of works had no link to political intervention by the present NDA administration.

Responding to remarks made in the Telangana Assembly, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s office clarified that the project had run into trouble earlier due to the absence of mandatory statutory clearances. Officials said regulatory authorities had already stepped in following complaints and legal scrutiny, leading to directions to stop work well before the current government assumed office.

The state government added that attempts were being made to politicise the issue across state lines, reiterating that there would be no compromise on Andhra Pradesh’s water rights or irrigation interests in Rayalaseema. It also indicated that supporting documents would be placed in the public domain to explain the sequence of events.

Analysis: Inter-state water projects often become political flashpoints, especially during Assembly debates. Clear timelines and transparency around regulatory approvals may help prevent competing narratives from escalating into prolonged disputes.