Call to use Pushkaralu funds to reduce pollution in Godavari

The Telangana government has been urged to take immediate steps to tackle rising pollution in the Godavari river as the deteriorating water quality poses a serious threat to public health.

In a representation submitted to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday (June 18, 2026), president of Forum for Good Governance (FGG) M. Padmanabha Reddy called for comprehensive measures to prevent further contamination of the river. Referring to the State government’s recent sanction of ₹1,000 crore for preparations related to the Godavari Pushkaralu scheduled in 2027, the FFG suggested that a substantial portion of the funds could instead be utilised for pollution-control measures and river rejuvenation initiatives.

The organisation said that while the government should facilitate essential services such as law and order, sanitation and medical assistance during Pushkaralu, long-term investments in restoring the health of the river would provide greater benefits to citizens and help safeguard a critical drinking water source for Hyderabad.

The representation also raised concerns over reduced river flows, attributing the situation to a series of barrages constructed upstream in Maharashtra. It noted that stretches of the river near Basar witness very low flows during summer months, and recalled that water had to be released from the Kadam Project during the previous Godavari Pushkaralu celebrations.

The organisation stated that the Godavari, often referred to as the “Dakshin Ganga” and India’s second-largest river after the Ganga, has witnessed increasing pollution over the past three decades. Industrial effluents from Maharashtra enter Telangana near Kandakurthi in Nirmal district, while untreated waste discharged in the Ramagundam-Mancherial region further degrades water quality.

The FFG alleged that coal mine dump material, fly ash from thermal power plants and leachate from municipal landfill sites located close to the river are contributing significantly to pollution levels.

The organisation cited studies conducted by agencies including the Central Water Commission, Central Pollution Control Board, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and IIT Hyderabad, which it said have highlighted concerns over the declining quality of Godavari waters.