Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has written to his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis, urging an early meeting to resolve the long-pending issue of the proposed height of the Tummidihatti barrage. This barrage is a key component of Telangana's ambitious Pranahita-Chevella irrigation project.
In the letter, Revanth requested Fadnavis to finalize a schedule for talks with a Telangana delegation, which he said he would personally lead, to discuss the issue and expedite the project. The Telangana government plans to construct the barrage as part of the BR Ambedkar Pranahita-Chevella Sujala Sravanthi project, aimed at meeting irrigation and drinking water needs in north Telangana.
Background of the Project
The project was originally planned with a barrage height of 152 metres. However, during an inter-state board meeting on August 23, 2016, Maharashtra agreed only to a full reservoir level (FRL) of 148 metres and assured support in obtaining required clearances.
The Telangana government, which recently reviewed the project through a series of meetings with senior officials and irrigation experts, has concluded that an FRL of 148 metres would not be sufficient to meet future water requirements in north Telangana. Revanth stated that a fresh round of discussions was necessary to address irrigation and drinking water needs in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, and Medak districts.
Key Points Raised by Telangana
- Any increase in the FRL beyond 148 metres would have minimal submergence impact in Maharashtra.
- A higher FRL would enable easier gravity-based water flow into Telangana.
Sources indicated that Telangana is now considering a barrage height of around 150 metres or slightly higher, depending on the outcome of discussions with Maharashtra.
The development underscores the ongoing interstate water dispute and the efforts to balance irrigation needs with minimal environmental impact.
