Strategic manoeuvres to divert Pranahita waters to Polavaram puts Medigadda at stake

Concerns are mounting over potential plans to weaken the project’s functionality with political decisions at the centre

Hyderabad: The Medigadda barrage, a key structure of the multi-stage Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, stands at a precarious juncture. While its engineering significance has been widely acknowledged, the barrage is now caught in a web of political manoeuvres that could strip Telangana of its lifeline source – Pranahita river waters. Concerns are mounting over potential plans to weaken the project’s functionality with political decisions at the centre.

Originally constructed to augment irrigation and stabilise water supply across Telangana’s farmlands, Medigadda barrage is now facing a fresh round of challenges—not so much from structural issues, but from strategic governmental shifts. The sinking of a single pillar, instead of prompting swift corrective action, is being used as justification to cast doubt on the project’s viability. Critics claim that these doubts are being deliberately magnified to justify undermining the barrage and facilitate water diversion efforts.

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AP pushes ahead with controversial water diversion plans

Adding weight to these fears, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is aggressively pushing for the Godavari-Banakacharla linkage project. The allocation of Rs 3,000 crore for its implementation, with the concurrence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has raised alarm bells in Telangana. This project, which seeks to divert Godavari waters southward, is perceived as being against the interests of Telangana, which historically has fought hard for its rightful share of river water.

Telangana’s leaders and experts argue that no clear water allocations have been made for Telangana’s irrigation projects within the Godavari basin. This raises concerns that water meant for Telangana could now flow toward Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, weakening the Medigadda barrage’s intended function.

The Congress-led government in Telangana has also played an equally disruptive role so far as the irrigation interests of the state are concerned. While previous administrations championed the initiative, the current leadership has been accused of painting the barrage in a negative light—questioning its economic feasibility and structural stability. This narrative, some argue, is playing into the hands of those advocating for large-scale diversions, potentially leaving Telangana’s farmers high and dry.

Peasant bodies and water management experts have voiced strong objections to moves that might weaken Medigadda’s functionality. The barrage plays a vital role in ensuring water availability for Telangana’s farmlands, particularly during non-monsoon months. Removing or neglecting the structure could result in devastating consequences for the state’s agrarian economy.

Farmers from Telangana have been demanding efforts for the restoration of the Medigadda barrage, while AP leadership was working through its loyalists in Telangana for its further decline to facilitate unrestricted flow and exploitation of Godavari water toward Polavaram, ultimately reaching Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.