K Chandrasekhar Rao, Devendra Fadnavis to sign pact on projects today

Hyderabad: TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis will sign a pact on Tuesday that will pave the way for TS to take up construction of five more major and medium irrigation projects on rivers Godavari, Pranahita and Penganga.

The height of Tammidihatti across Pranahita (148 meters) and height of Medigadda barrage across Godavari (100 meters) would be decided in Tuesday’s meeting.

Though there were agreements entered into on a few inter-state projects like Lendi and Penganga, due to objections raised by Maharashtra fearing large scale submersion of land, construction of these projects was subjected to delay and cost escalation.

After bifurcation of AP, it became necessary for TS to strike a fresh deal with the upstream Maharashtra. It triggered objections even after a 2012 meeting between the then Chief Ministers of AP, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Maharastra, Prithviraj Chavan.

During a meeting with Mr Rao on March 8 this year, Mr Fadnavis, while allowing utilisation up to 160 tmc ft of Pranahita water, had categorically objected to the height of Tammidihatti exceeding 148 meters.

This objection was raised earlier by the Congress CM  Prithviraj Chavan in a letter dated October 15, 2013, as well. Even the present minister of state for irrigation of Maharashtra, Vijay Shivtare, during a meeting of the National Water Development Agency in Delhi in July, 2015, went on record saying that the full reservoir level of Tammidihatti should be reduced to 148 meters from 152 meters so that about 21,00 hectares from 30 villages in Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts of Maharashtra can be saved from submergence.

All these inter-state issues led to TS changing its plans and now deciding to go ahead with 148 meters height at Tammidihatti, so that Maharashtra will not raise objection in the future. However, in order to fulfil the targeted benefit under Pranahita-Chevella Lift Irrigation Scheme, the TS CM proposed Medigadda barrage near Kaleswaram temple in Karimnagar across the Godavari to make use of waters from both the Godavari and its tributary Pranahita, at the confluence point.

It was agreed by both the states to include projects under joint supervision by constituting an Inter-State Board in the last meeting of CMs this year.

Accordingly, Lendi, Pranahita-Chevella (Tammidihatti and Medigadda barrages), Rajapet, Chanaka-Korata, Pimparad barrages on Penganga river and lower Penganga project were proposed under the Board.

After the CMs met early this year, officials from both the states discussed and agreed on all technical issues associated with construction of the structures.
Tammidihatti barrage in Adilabad district envisages water supply to two lakh acres in Adilabad district. ChanakaKorata will provide water to 50,000 acres in the same district.

Pact is ‘betrayal’, will affect Telangana: Uttam
TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy urged the Congress units in the state to protest against the agreement to be signed by both the CMs, claiming it would adversely affect the irrigation interests of TS.

Terming the agreement a ‘betrayal’, Mr Reddy said that reduction of height at Tammidihatti would only escalate the cost of the project which otherwise would have been a gravity cum lift irrigation scheme had it been 152 meters as proposed by the erstwhile Congress government.

He also said Medigadda project near Kaleswaram would be more useful for ruling party netas to make money than provide irrigation. Mr Reddy plans to submit a memorandum to the Hyderabad district collector protesting against the agreement on Tuesday.