Uttam Kumar Reddy seeks changes to the Tummidihatti barrage plan to address Maharashtra’s concerns
Hyderabad: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials on Saturday to explore engineering modifications to the Tummidihatti barrage plan to address Maharashtra’s concerns over land submergence and environmental damage.
The minister called for technically feasible and practical solutions that would minimise environmental impact without compromising the project’s irrigation objectives.
His directions followed recent discussions between the Telangana and Maharashtra governments over the proposed barrage and its reservoir levels. Telangana has proposed increasing the barrage’s Full Reservoir Level (FRL) from 148 metres to 152 metres to improve water storage and utilisation.
Tummidihatti barrage plan reviewed after Maharashtra talks
Uttam Kumar Reddy reviewed the project’s technical aspects and proposed alignments following discussions with Maharashtra officials. He instructed the irrigation department to conduct a comprehensive assessment of land that could face submergence at different reservoir levels.
The minister stressed the need to examine the project’s impact before finalising engineering options. He also directed officials to identify possible modifications that could address Maharashtra’s objections while preserving Telangana’s irrigation requirements.
The review focused particularly on the potential effects of higher reservoir levels on surrounding land and environmentally sensitive areas. Uttam Kumar Reddy instructed officials to prepare detailed maps showing areas potentially affected by the proposed barrage.
The maps must separately identify riverbeds, forest areas, eco-sensitive zones, protected core areas, revenue lands and human habitations. Officials were also asked to assess the extent of submergence at different reservoir levels.
The minister emphasised that these assessments should provide a clear technical basis for evaluating alternative engineering arrangements. He sought practical solutions to reduce environmental impact and address concerns raised by the neighbouring state.
Telangana proposes raising reservoir level to 152 metres
The proposed increase in the Full Reservoir Level remains a central issue in discussions over the Tummidihatti barrage plan. Telangana wants to raise the FRL from 148 metres to 152 metres to enhance the project’s water storage and utilisation capacity.
However, Maharashtra has raised concerns regarding the potential submergence of land and the environmental consequences of the proposal. The Telangana government is examining technical alternatives to address those concerns without affecting the intended irrigation benefits.
The proposal also figured during an October 26 meeting in Mumbai. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy discussed the matter with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Following those discussions, Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to examine the technical implications and identify feasible engineering solutions. The supplied report did not specify a deadline for completing the assessments or finalising the proposed modifications.