Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed irrigation officials to prepare detailed technical reports ahead of talks with Maharashtra on the proposed Tummidihetti barrage. He stressed the need to present Telangana’s water requirements and justify a proposed height of 152 metres.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had expressed willingness to hold discussions after October 23, Revanth Reddy said. Accordingly, he asked officials to compile data on water availability, potential submergence and the volume of water the barrage could divert to the Yellampalli project.
The Chief Minister reviewed the Tummidihetti barrage, Dindi and Achampet lift irrigation projects at a meeting at the Bodhi Pavilion on Friday. Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Rajya Sabha member Vem Narender Reddy and senior irrigation officials attended.
During the review, irrigation engineers explained the likely water diversion at heights of 152 metres and 150 metres. Officials said the proposed structure would not submerge villages in Maharashtra. However, a 152-metre barrage could submerge about 2,300 acres, while a 150-metre structure would affect less than 1,000 acres.
Tummidihetti barrage height central to Maharashtra negotiations
Revanth Reddy asked officials to assess potential submergence in Maharashtra and identify the height that would maximise water diversion. He called for detailed reports to support Telangana’s request for a 152-metre barrage.
Maharashtra had earlier agreed to a height of 148 metres. However, Revanth Reddy said a structure at that level would not allow Telangana to divert the required volume of water. He also directed officials to keep records of earlier meetings between the two states in Delhi under the Central Water Commission (CWC) ready. They must promptly provide any information the Commission requests.
The Chief Minister said the project was crucial for irrigating two lakh acres in the undivided Adilabad district. The region has a large tribal population, extensive forest areas and significant socio-economic backwardness. He expressed hope that constructive talks with Maharashtra would help resolve the long-standing water crisis in the tribal-dominated region.
Meanwhile, Revanth Reddy asked irrigation engineers to prepare the route design for conveying water from Tummidihetti to Yellampalli. He also directed them to initiate land acquisition once the authorities finalise the barrage height.
In addition, he asked officials to submit details of recent CWC meetings in Delhi, including the issues discussed and reports sought by the Commission. He directed ministers to explain Telangana’s irrigation needs clearly and present the state’s position during negotiations with Maharashtra.
Dindi and Achampet projects require 0.6 TMC of water
The Chief Minister also reviewed water requirements for the Dindi and Achampet lift irrigation projects. He directed officials to plan for lifting 0.5 TMC of water for Dindi and 0.1 TMC for Achampet from the Yedula reservoir. Together, the projects require 0.6 TMC of water sourced from the Srisailam reservoir.
To meet this demand, he called for a dedicated system to lift additional water from Srisailam through Narlapur to Yedula. Accordingly, irrigation officials must conduct an immediate feasibility study and prepare designs.
The study should identify suitable locations for pumps and pump houses. It must also assess the capacity of existing canals and tunnels and determine where officials need to expand them.
Revanth Reddy stressed that the arrangements must meet Dindi and Achampet’s water needs without affecting allocations for the Palamuru-Rangareddy project. He said officials should plan the works to meet the requirements of all three projects.
The meeting also addressed concerns and requests from representatives of Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts about supplying Dindi with water from Narlapur or Yedula.