Revanth Reddy faces uphill task in securing Maharashtra’s nod for Tummidihatti barrage

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is set to meet his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai to discuss the long-pending Tummidihatti barrage project across the Pranahita river. Telangana is seeking Maharashtra's approval for a Full Reservoir Level of 152 metres, while Maharashtra has raised concerns over the possible submergence of villages.

Hyderabad: After accusing Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of denying him an appointment to discuss the Tummidihatti barrage issue, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is finally set to meet his Maharashtra counterpart in Mumbai on Monday to resolve the long-pending dispute.

Much is at stake for the Congress government, which has maintained that constructing the Tummidihatti barrage is the most viable solution to secure water beyond Kaleshwaram. However, three years have passed, and the government has yet to convince Maharashtra to approve the project.

---

Accompanied by Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Revanth Reddy left for Mumbai on Sunday. However, doubts remain over whether he can convince Maharashtra to agree to the proposed height of the barrage, particularly with the El Nino crisis looming.

Telangana has been urging Maharashtra to approve the construction of the Tummidihatti barrage across the River Pranahita, a tributary of the River Godavari, at a height of 152 metres. However, Maharashtra has expressed concern over the submergence of villages if the barrage is built at that height.

Telangana maintains that the project would not submerge any villages in Maharashtra. It has stated that a Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 152 metres would result in the submergence of only 2,300 acres, while the affected area would be less than 1,000 acres at an FRL of 150 metres.

At a meeting with officials on Friday, Revanth Reddy pointed out that Maharashtra had previously agreed to an FRL of 148 metres. He also stressed that constructing the barrage at such a low height would prevent Telangana from drawing or diverting the expected quantity of water.

Revanth Reddy will now have to convince his Maharashtra counterpart to approve construction at an FRL of 152 metres. He is expected to present technical reports, details of water availability and estimates of the extent of submergence to support Telangana’s case.