High Stakes in Tummidihatti: Telangana and Maharashtra Set for Critical Discussion

The government of Telangana is making strides to finalize the construction height of the Tummidihatti Barrage with their Maharashtra counterparts. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has reached out to Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking to initiate talks between the states, as part of the broader Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Pranahita-Chevella Sujala Sravanthi Project. Previously, an agreement to construct the barrage at 148 meters was reached, but Telangana is advocating for a higher capacity to meet local water demands.

Amid increasing urgency to expedite the Pranahita-Chevella Project, Telangana's government has held consultations with experts who concluded that the current arrangement at 148 meters falls short of addressing the water needs for North Telangana, including key districts like Adilabad and Karimnagar. Chief Minister Reddy's letter asserts the necessity of revisiting the barrage height to ensure adequate irrigation and water supply.

Further discussions reveal minimal additional submergence impact in Maharashtra if the height exceeds 148 meters. Telangana has proposed an FRL of 150 meters, a measure that aims to optimize resource utilization effectively. State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy is also involved in facilitating discussions with Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy for expedited resolutions. Engineering experts suggest this increase would permit utilizing around 100 TMCs of water, addressing Telangana's concerns efficiently.

(With inputs from agencies.)