Revanth: Take Kishan's Help to Convince Maharashtra on Barrage
If the barrage is fixed at 150 metres, then Telangana will be able to use at least 100 TMC feet of water from Pranahita which could be sent to the Sripada Yellampalli reservoir on Godavari to the south of Pranahita.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday called for seeking Union minister G. Kishan Reddy’s assistance in convincing the Maharashtra government to agree for construction of a 150-metre tall barrage at Tummidihatti. The barrage at Tummidihatti is the key structure of the Pranahita-Chevella link scheme that seeks to bring water from Pranahita river to Yellampalli reservoir on Godavari river.
Chairing a review on the project at the MCR HRD Institute, the Chief Minister suggested that irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy to seek an appointment with Kishan Reddy, and submit a request letter asking Kishan Reddy to help in discussions on the barrage height with Maharashtra.
During the meeting, irrigation department engineers informed the Chief Minister that to make the best use of the portion of work on the project that was already completed in the past, the barrage height should be at 150 metres. Maharashtra had previously agreed to 148 metres, as raising the height any further would involve submergence of land in that state from the backwaters of the barrage.
If the barrage is fixed at 150 metres, then Telangana will be able to use at least 100 TMC feet of water from Pranahita which could be sent to the Sripada Yellampalli reservoir on Godavari to the south of Pranahita. The officials said the Telangana government has already spent around Rs.11,000 crore on the project, and also constructed canals over a distance of 71.5 km.
Revanth Reddy said a 150-tall barrage will not result in any significant submergence in Maharashtra and that the Telangana government is ready to pay the required compensation to Maharashtra for any submerged land.
Since the proposal suggested by the officials will be the most cost effective, and will also mean adequate water that can be taken via gravity to Yellampalli, and add to irrigation potential, the Chief Minister directed officials to begin discussions on this matter with the Maharashtra government.
Revanth Reddy also said since Maharashtra has a BJP government, Uttam Kumar Reddy should meet with Kishan Reddy and seek the latter’s assistance on the request to Maharashtra to agree to the suggested barrage height.
He also directed officials to complete the ongoing geotechnical tests at Medigadda barrage before the onset of the monsoon season.
The meeting was attended among others by agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, Rajya Sabha member Vem Narender Reddy, secretary CMO K Manicka Raj, and principal secretary finance Sandeep Kumar Sultania.
