Hyderabad: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana could divert nearly 80 TMC of Pranahita water to the Sundilla barrage by gravity if ongoing talks with Maharashtra yield consent.
The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has scheduled inter-State discussions between Telangana and Maharashtra for September 1 in New Delhi.
The meeting will examine Telangana’s proposal to construct the Pranahita barrage at Tummidi Hatti with a full reservoir level of 150 metres.
The Central Water Commission Chairman will chair the discussions. Senior officials and heads of key CWC directorates will also participate.
Ahead of the talks, Uttam Kumar Reddy held a preparatory meeting with Irrigation Secretary E. Sridhar and Engineer-in-Chief (General) O.V. Ramesh Babu on Saturday.
Other senior irrigation officials also attended the meeting. During the session, the Minister reviewed Telangana’s position and preparations for the negotiations.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the start of formal discussions between Telangana and Maharashtra marked a significant step towards restoring the benefits originally envisaged under the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Pranahita-Chevella project.
He said the talks followed sustained efforts and correspondence by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the Irrigation department.
Pranahita water proposal seeks Maharashtra consent
Telangana will seek Maharashtra’s consent for a barrage level of 152 metres, Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
The proposed level is two metres higher than the 148-metre level accepted by the previous State government in 2016.
Meanwhile, technical studies conducted by the Central Water and Power Research Station in Pune estimated Maharashtra’s submergence at about 1,150 acres at 148 metres.
At 152 metres, however, the estimated submergence would rise to more than 2,500 acres, according to the studies cited by the Minister.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said submergence would occur at both levels. Therefore, he argued that the previous government should have negotiated more effectively to obtain Maharashtra’s consent for the higher level.
“Since submergence is involved at both levels, the previous government should have negotiated more effectively to secure Maharashtra’s consent for the technically advantageous 152-metre level. Telangana lost an important opportunity by agreeing to 148 metres without adequately safeguarding the State’s interests,” he said.
The Minister said the higher barrage level would enable nearly 80 TMC of Pranahita water to reach Sundilla through gravity.
Gravity supply could reduce lift irrigation dependence
Under the proposal, gravity conveyance would reduce Telangana’s dependence on lift irrigation, Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
Lift irrigation involves higher expenditure and energy requirements. Therefore, gravity conveyance could provide a more dependable and sustainable source of irrigation.
As a result, Pranahita water could move towards the Sundilla barrage without relying on costly lift arrangements to the same extent.
The September 1 meeting will focus on Telangana’s proposal and the issues involved in securing Maharashtra’s consent.
Telangana will present its position during the discussions in New Delhi. The negotiations will take place under the supervision of the Central Water Commission.
The State government is seeking the higher barrage level while citing its potential to facilitate gravity-based water conveyance to Sundilla.
The talks will determine the next steps on the inter-State proposal.