Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis agreed to re-evaluate Telangana’s proposal for a higher Tummidihatti barrage.
The proposal came up during talks between chief minister A Revanth Reddy and Fadnavis in Mumbai, where Telangana renewed its demand to construct the barrage at a height of 152 metres, against the 148 metres agreed upon earlier. HYDERABAD: In a significant step towards advancing Telangana’s long-pending plans to harness Pranahita river water, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday agreed to reconsider Telangana’s proposal to increase the height of the proposed Tummidihatti barrage.
The previous BRS govt had agreed to a barrage height of 148 metres, which, it said, constrained Telangana’s ability to fully utilise its share of river water, according to the CMO.
The proposed joint committee, headed by the principal secretaries of the irrigation departments of both states, will examine various aspects of the project, including the proposed barrage height, water availability, extent of submergence, impact on agricultural land and compensation requirements before a final decision is taken, according to the Telangana CMO. Responding positively to Telangana’s request, Fadnavis said Maharashtra was open to reconsidering the proposal. Fadnavis also said his govt was willing to examine Telangana’s request to increase the Tummidihatti barrage height and would conduct an independent study to assess the proposal’s feasibility. If Telangana raises objections to the findings, officials from both states will jointly review the estimates and hold further consultations, he said.
However, he emphasised that several technical, environmental and administrative processes would have to be completed before a conclusion could be reached. The study will examine the suitability of the construction site, the extent of submergence at different height levels and the amount of land likely to be affected. The discussions mark a significant step in Telangana’s efforts to secure Maharashtra’s consent for increasing the proposed barrage height.
