Telangana CM Revanth Reddy seeks centre's intervention to resolve Tummidihetti Barrage height dispute with Maharashtra
By Pramod Chaturvedi, New Delhi, August 5
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Wednesday met Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi and sought the Centre's intervention to resolve the long-pending dispute with the Maharashtra government over the proposed height of the Tummidihetti Barrage.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Members of Parliament from Telangana during the meeting.
Revanth Reddy urged the Union Minister to facilitate discussions with the Maharashtra government to secure approval for constructing the barrage at a height of 150 metres, instead of the 148 metres reportedly cleared by the neighbouring state.
According to the Telangana government, increasing the height of the barrage to 150 metres would not significantly increase the submergence area, which is expected to remain below 1,000 hectares, while substantially improving the irrigation potential and overall benefits of the project.
Explaining the state's position, Revanth Reddy told the Union Minister that the revised height would enhance the project's utility without leading to major additional displacement or environmental concerns.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the strategic importance of the Tummidihetti Barrage, stating that the project would enable irrigation through a gravity-based water distribution system.
He said such a system would eliminate the need for large-scale lift irrigation infrastructure, thereby significantly reducing project costs, lowering energy consumption and ensuring more sustainable water management.
The Tummidihetti Barrage forms a key component of Telangana's irrigation strategy for northern districts and is intended to utilise water from the Pranahita River, a major tributary of the Godavari. The project has remained pending for several years due to differences between Telangana and Maharashtra over the permissible Full Reservoir Level (FRL) and the extent of submergence in areas falling within Maharashtra.
Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the project underwent several modifications. The Telangana government has maintained that a higher barrage level would improve irrigation coverage while keeping additional submergence within acceptable limits.
During the meeting, Revanth Reddy urged the Centre to play a proactive role in resolving the inter-state issue through consultations with the Maharashtra government so that the project can be implemented without further delay.
The Chief Minister said an early resolution would help accelerate irrigation development, improve water availability for agriculture and benefit farmers across the region.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is the right move — going to the Centre for intervention is the only way when inter-state disputes drag on for so long. But I wish the government would also explain to the public how the 150m vs 148m affects Maharashtra's villages that might be impacted. Transparency is key for both states to build trust.
It's encouraging to see state governments trying to resolve water disputes through dialogue rather than confrontation. At 2 metres difference, it seems reasonable to hope both states can find a compromise. The gravity-based irrigation idea is smart — less electricity consumption and lower maintenance costs in the long run.
The mention of "submergence area remaining below 1,000 hectares" is hopeful, but we've heard similar promises before with other projects. The real losers in these delays are the farmers who've been waiting years for water. I just hope this gets resolved before the next kharif season. We can't keep living in uncertainty.
As someone from Adilabad, this news brings hope! The Pranahita river water is right there, but without proper infrastructure, our fields remain dry. I appreciate CM Revanth Reddy's proactive approach — going directly to the Union Minister shows he understands the urgency. Let's hope Maharashtra sees the collective benefit rather than just state boundaries. 🌾
Inter-state water disputes are always complex, but this one seems closer to resolution than many others. The fact that the difference is only 2 metres and Telangana is demonstrating minimal submergence impact is promising. The centre should facilitate a meeting between both CMs to finalise this. Every year of delay means less
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