Revanth Reddy says Fadnavis ignoring Telangana’s requests on Tummidihatti project

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of ignoring Telangana's requests for a meeting on the Tummidihatti project and urged union Minister Kishan Reddy to help facilitate discussions between the two States

Hyderabad: Reviving plans for the construction of the Tummidihatti project after nearly two-and-a-half years, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has now begun blaming the Maharashtra government for not responding to Telangana’s appeals on the project.

Speaking at a public meeting in Kagaznagar on Monday, he disclosed that the Telangana government had written several letters to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the past year seeking an appointment to discuss the project. However, there had been no response, he admitted.

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The Chief Minister then threw the ball into the court of Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, saying that, as a representative of Telangana, he should shoulder the responsibility of acting as a messenger between the two States. “I have no reservations. I will come to your house and you can take me to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s house to discuss the Tummidihatti project,” Revanth Reddy said, referring to Kishan Reddy.

Interestingly, the situation was different when the BRS government was in power. Soon after assuming office in 2014, the then TRS government held discussions with the Maharashtra government on irrigation projects. However, Maharashtra was not willing to part with land for the Tummidihatti project, citing large-scale submergence and other concerns. Water availability at Tummidihatti was also a contentious issue.

As a result, the TRS government explored alternative options, including redesigning the project and shifting its location to reduce costs and speed up execution. Subsequently, the Kaleshwaram project was taken up and completed at a rapid pace.

After spending the last two-and-a-half years criticising the BRS government over the construction of Kaleshwaram and the sinking of two pillars at Medigadda, the Congress government is now maintaining that the Tummidihatti project will be taken up at any cost. “The Tummidihatti barrage will be constructed and irrigation water will be provided to two lakh acres,” Revanth Reddy asserted.

He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had advised Chief Ministers to discuss and resolve inter-State water-sharing disputes. Telangana had been trying to resolve issues related to the project for the past year, but the Maharashtra Chief Minister was not responding, he alleged. “I appeal to Devendra Fadnavis to allot time for a meeting to discuss the Tummidihatti project. If time is not allotted, Adilabad will revolt and it will become a major issue for Maharashtra,” Revanth Reddy said.

For reasons unknown, the Maharashtra Chief Minister was discriminating against Telangana and acting negligently, he alleged. He claimed that Fadnavis was not extending even basic courtesy to the Telangana Chief Minister. Revanth Reddy reiterated that Kishan Reddy should act as a messenger to resolve the issue. He said the Maharashtra government’s cooperation was essential for acquiring 1,500 acres required for the execution of the Tummidihatti project.

“Was it not the BJP government that merged seven mandals from Telangana into Andhra Pradesh for the execution of the Polavaram project? Why cannot the Prime Minister provide 2,000 acres of submergence land in Maharashtra?” Revanth Reddy asked.