Maharashtra agrees to examine Telangana’s 152-metre Tummidihatti barrage proposal
At a meeting with a Telangana delegation led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at the Sahyadri State Guest House here, Fadnavis said Maharashtra would support Telangana’s water requirements provided the project did not adversely affect Maharashtra or its people.
Fadnavis proposed a joint committee headed by the Principal Secretaries of the Irrigation Departments of both states to examine the proposed barrage height, availability of water, extent of submergence, impact on agricultural lands and compensation requirements, and prepare a roadmap and timeline for further action.
Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy made a detailed presentation explaining the need to construct the barrage at 152 metres instead of the 148 metres envisaged under the 2016 agreement.
He said the proposed height of 148 metres would not adequately meet the irrigation requirements of the region.
The Minister highlighted the advantages of gravity-based water conveyance in view of rising power costs, energy requirements, environmental concerns and climate change.
He said the irrigation aspirations of the erstwhile Adilabad district had remained largely unfulfilled despite efforts dating back to October 6, 1975.
Revanth Reddy stressed the need to address the long-standing irrigation and drinking water requirements of tribal and Adivasi communities in the economically backward Adilabad region.
Referring to the historic Jal, Jangal, Zameen movement led by tribal leader Komaram Bheem, he said the project could contribute to the region’s socio-economic development.
The Telangana government also expressed willingness to compensate Maharashtra farmers whose agricultural lands might be affected by submergence, in accordance with the state’s land acquisition and compensation policies.
Fadnavis said the Central Water Commission would continue its technical examinations within its jurisdiction, while officials and experts from both states would undertake further consultations to resolve the outstanding issues.
The two Chief Ministers emphasised the importance of cooperation and good-neighbourly relations in addressing the development needs of the region.
During the meeting, Revanth Reddy invited Fadnavis to the Invest Telangana Global Summit scheduled to be held at Future City in Hyderabad from December 7 to 9.
Fadnavis expressed interest in attending the event and said he would try to participate.
The Chief Secretaries of both states and senior Irrigation Department officials attended the meeting.
TNT KS
