Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is likely to meet his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis by the end of this month in connection with the Telangana government's plan to construct a barrage at 150 metres height at Tummidihatti as part of the Pranahita-Chevella project.
Background of the Project
In the past, the Maharashtra government had agreed to a barrage construction at 148 metres, stating that there could be more submergence if the height was increased beyond 148 metres. The Telangana government on Wednesday wrote a letter to Maharashtra in this connection, seeking time from the concerned officials, ministers, and the Chief Minister. Sources told TOI that the state government is in a hurry to hold talks and convince the Maharashtra government to allow the barrage construction at 150 metres height, asserting that it would not result in any significant submergence in Maharashtra territory.
Expert Recommendations
Experts have suggested that constructing the Tummidihatti barrage at 150 metres would enable the utilization of at least 100 thousand million cubic feet (TMC ft) of water and fulfill the interests of Telangana. Engineering experts noted that constructing the barrage at 152 metres would result in more submergence in Maharashtra. However, if the barrage is constructed at a height of 150 metres, it would help to draw water at a lower cost, sources in the irrigation department said.
Irrigation Minister's Directives
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has directed officials and engineers to ensure that all future decisions and communications between the two states must be backed by comprehensive study, technical merit, and economic viability. He told the officials to prepare complete documentation, alternative alignments, cost-benefit analyses, and geo-technical details before venturing into talks with the Maharashtra government.
History of the Pranahita-Chevella Project
The original Pranahita-Chevella project, conceived by the then Congress government before the state bifurcation, envisioned a barrage at Tummidihatti on the Pranahita river (a tributary of the Godavari) to divert water primarily through gravity canals and minimal lifts to irrigate upland areas, including parts of Adilabad, and onward to regions like Rangareddy (Chevella tail-end areas) via the Yellampalli reservoir.
Previous Government's Approach
The previous BRS government had redesigned it as the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project (KLIP), introducing multiple barrages (Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla) and did not construct a barrage at Tummidihatti, citing lack of water availability at the point. Congress had promised the people during the election campaign that it would revive the Pranahita-Chevella project by constructing a barrage at Tummidihatti.
Current Studies and Options
Four alternative alignment proposals for linking Tummidihatti to Yellampalli (and onward to Sundilla) are under examination by the Telangana government. Experts from IIT Hyderabad and RV Associates conducted studies and submitted reports with four options. During a recent review meeting, Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the Pranahita-Chevella project, including the barrage at Tummidihatti, once operational, would deliver reliable water at reduced operational costs compared to the heavy-lift redesign.
