No honesty in claiming no provision of water at Tummadihatti

The Justice PC Ghose Commission dismissed claims of water scarcity at Tummadihatti. It confirmed that Telangana’s decision to shift the barrage was based on CWC’s observations, not political motives

Hyderabad: The Justice PC Ghose Commission maintained that there was no justification for argument that there was no water availability at Tummadihatti. It is misleading to say barrage construction was shifted to Medigadda from Tummidihatti only because of non-availability of water.

Fact:

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The Congress was in power for 10 years in the undivided Andhra Pradesh before bifurcation of the State. Interestingly, the Congress was also ruling in Maharashtra and yet it could not construct the barrage at Tummadihatti. Leave aside construction, the Congress government in Telangana could not even sign an agreement with its counterpart in Maharashtra.

To cover up its failure, the Congress has been charging that the barrage was relocated to Medigadda with ulterior motives. Infact, it was the Central Water Commission, which had clearly mentioned the water availability at Tummadihatti.

The CWC had in its correspondence with the Telangana irrigation department in February and March 2015, had warned about lack of sufficient water at Tummadihatti.

There was availability of 165 tmcft of water at Tummadihatti as against the proposed diversion of 160 tmcft under Pranahita-Chevella project. However, Maharashtra has a right to use 63 tmcft and in future if the State utilized its share of water, there would be a deficit at Tummadihatti. Further as there would be no storage, there could be issues with irrigation requirements, the CWC had stressed.

Considering all these factors, the Telangana government had taken its decision.