Tummala Nageshwar Rao - CM Chandrababu Talks Focus on Five Villages, Irrigation

Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Amaravati on Monday and held extensive discussions on inter-state coordination, pending border projects, and long-standing bifurcation issues. He emphasized that stronger cooperation between the Telugu states would ensure greater benefits for people, particularly in border regions facing administrative and infrastructure challenges.

A key issue raised was the demand to merge five gram panchayats near Bhadrachalam back into Telangana. These villages were transferred to Andhra Pradesh during the 2014 bifurcation to facilitate the Polavaram project, though they remain geographically and socially linked to Telangana, with many tribal residents depending on Bhadrachalam for essential services.

The minister also requested allocation of five acres of land in Tirumala to provide facilities for Telangana devotees visiting Lord Venkateswara and sought cooperation for establishing a TTD temple in Khammam district . Discussions included repairs to the Peddavagu irrigation project in Khammam, with Tummala urging Andhra Pradesh to release 85% of the repair funds , noting its cross-border benefits.

He further appealed for immediate repairs to the flood protection embankment safeguarding Bhadrachalam town , parts of which fall under Andhra Pradesh’s jurisdiction, stressing its importance in protecting the Godavari riverbank town from recurring floods. To strengthen connectivity and regional development, he requested expedited construction of the Sathupalli–Kovvur and Penuballi–Amaravati railway lines , which are expected to improve transport, trade, and movement of agricultural produce.

Tummala noted that high-level consultations between the two states on border roads, irrigation systems, and infrastructure could help resolve long-standing post-bifurcation challenges, and sources indicated that the Chief Minister responded positively to the proposals.