The project is an interstate project on river Godavari which was conceived in 1980 as a part of recommendations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT). On April 2, 1980, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha executed an agreement to clear construction of the project with a full reservoir level of 150 feet and with a spillway discharging capacity of 36 lakh cusecs