Andhra officials say the Rayalaseema project was halted for legal/environmental reasons, not to favor Telangana.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's allegations that the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project was stopped to benefit Telangana are contested by Andhra Pradesh officials, who call the claims false. The National Green Tribunal and central authorities issued stop-work orders as early as 2020, and they claim that the project was halted because the previous YSRCP government failed to obtain statutory and environmental clearances. The current administration emphasizes compliance and long-term sustainability while highlighting ongoing irrigation initiatives, such as restored canals and increased micro-irrigation support, and claims it is now pursuing legal remedies to legally revive the project.