Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday urged the Centre to secure Maharashtra’s approval to increase the height of the Tummidihetti barrage on the Pranahita River to enable gravity-based water supply.
During his visit to New Delhi, the Chief Minister, accompanied by Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, met Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil. During the meeting, he explained that raising the barrage height would have only a limited impact on submergence in Maharashtra.
Revanth Reddy referred to his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking approval for the project. Further, he noted that the Prime Minister’s Office had forwarded the matter to the Jal Shakti Ministry for action.
Tummidihetti barrage height under discussion
The Chief Minister recalled that Telangana and Maharashtra had earlier agreed to construct the barrage at a height of 148 metres. He informed the Union Minister that the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, had studied the feasibility of raising the height to between 148 and 152 metres.
According to the CWPRS study, submergence would not differ significantly whether the barrage was built at 148 metres or 152 metres. Moreover, he said nearly 50 per cent of the affected area would remain within the riverbed.
Revanth Reddy said a 148-metre barrage would not allow gravity-based water supply. Therefore, he requested the Centre to persuade Maharashtra to permit construction at a height of 150 to 152 metres.
He said the higher barrage would enable gravity-based irrigation and reduce electricity consumption. Accordingly, he requested the Union Minister to convene a meeting between Telangana and Maharashtra at the earliest. He added that the project would provide irrigation facilities to the backward undivided Adilabad district.
C.R. Patil informed the Chief Minister that the ministry had received the communication from the Prime Minister’s Office. Meanwhile, he said the Central Water Commission (CWC) would first convene a meeting of officials from Telangana and Maharashtra. He added that he would later hold a meeting with the irrigation ministers of both States.
MPs Anil Kumar Yadav, V. Narender Reddy, Mallu Ravi, Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy, Porika Balaram Naik, Gaddam Vamsi Krishna and Dr Kadiyam Kavya attended the meeting. Telangana Government Special Representative in Delhi A.P. Jitender Reddy, Irrigation Adviser Adityanath Das, Irrigation Principal Secretary E. Sridhar and senior officials also participated.