Revanth Reddy writes letter to Maharashtra CM on Tummidihatti barrage

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking discussions on revising the height of the Tummidihatti barrage under the Pranahita-Chevella Project to better meet irrigation and drinking water requirements of North Telangana districts

Hyderabad: The State Government has taken the initiative to hold discussions with Maharashtra on finalising the height and construction of the Tummidihatti Barrage.

To this effect, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy wrote a letter to his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday. He requested him to finalise a schedule for holding talks.

---

As part of the Dr B R Ambedkar Pranahita-Chevella Sujala Sravanthi Project, the State Government is proposing to construct a barrage at Tummidihatti. Initially, it was proposed to construct the barrage at a height of 152 metres.

During an Inter-State Board meeting held on August 23, 2016, the Maharashtra government agreed to the construction of the barrage at Tummidihatti at a height of 148 metres. The Maharashtra government also assured that it would extend cooperation in obtaining the necessary clearances.

Following the State Government’s decision to expedite the completion of the Pranahita-Chevella Project, the government recently reviewed the issue by holding a series of meetings with top officials and irrigation experts.

Based on expert advice, the government concluded that a Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 148 metres would be insufficient to meet the water requirements of North Telangana.

Consequently, Revanth Reddy mentioned in the letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister that a fresh round of discussions on the height of the Tummidihatti barrage was important to address the irrigation and drinking water needs of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Medak districts.

Further, the Chief Minister explained that the impact of submergence in Maharashtra would remain minimal even if the FRL slightly exceeded 148 metres, if it was considered necessary. It would be easier to bring water to Telangana through gravity if the FRL was increased, the Chief Minister stressed.