Revanth Writes To Maha CM Fadnavis On Tummidihatti Barrage
Revanth Reddy also assured Maharashtra that any increase in the barrage height would cause only minimal submergence on the Maharashtra side
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday seeking discussions with the Maharashtra government on the construction and height of the proposed Tummidihatti barrage as part of the revival of the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Pranahitha-Chevella Sujala Sravanthi project.
In his letter, Revanth Reddy stated that the Telangana government was ready to hold detailed discussions with Maharashtra on the issue and requested Fadnavis to convene a meeting with a Telangana government delegation at the earliest. He also sought a mutually convenient date for the discussions to move the project forward.
The Tummidihatti barrage is a key component of the Pranahitha-Chevella project. Under the original proposal, the barrage was planned with a Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 152 metres. However, during the Interstate Board meeting held on August 23, 2016, the Maharashtra government had agreed to the construction of the barrage at an FRL of 148 metres and had also assured cooperation in obtaining the necessary clearances and permissions.
Following the recent decision of the Telangana government to revive and complete the Pranahitha-Chevella project, the issue was reviewed once again. According to experts consulted by the state government, an FRL of 148 metres may not be sufficient to meet the irrigation and drinking water requirements of the North Telangana districts.
In his letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy explained that a fresh discussion on increasing the height of the Tummidihatti barrage had become necessary, keeping in view the irrigation and drinking water needs of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Medak districts. He stated that even if the FRL is raised slightly above 148 metres, the submergence impact in Maharashtra would remain minimal.
The Chief Minister further pointed out that increasing the FRL would enable Telangana to draw water through gravity, which would significantly benefit the state in terms of water supply and irrigation. He expressed hope that both states could arrive at a mutually agreeable solution through discussions and cooperation.
