CM Revanth Likely To Meet Fadnavis on Monday Over Tummidihatti
Revanth Reddy had written to Fadnavis on May 26, seeking a mutually acceptable solution, but had received no response.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is likely to visit Mumbai on Monday to meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and seek approval for constructing the Tummidihatti barrage at 152 metres, official sources said on Saturday. Irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, irrigation adviser Adityanath Das and senior officials will accompany Revanth Reddy for talks with the Maharashtra delegation, the sources added.
The state government is seeking to raise the barrage height from the previously agreed 148 metres, arguing that the lower level would not provide the required water flow through gravity to the Sripada Yellampalli reservoir, and that pumping to lift the water would significantly increase electricity costs.
Revanth Reddy had written to Fadnavis on May 26, seeking a mutually acceptable solution, but had received no response. He subsequently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on June 11 and urged him to facilitate talks with Maharashtra. After the PMO forwarded his letter to the Union jal shakti ministry, Revanth Reddy wrote to Union minister C.R. Patil on August 5 seeking the Centre's intervention.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) convened a meeting of officials from both states on September 1 to discuss technical and interstate issues. Telangana has also cited studies by the Pune-based Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRI), indicating that the additional submergence of land from raising the barrage height could be mitigated.
At a review meeting on Friday, Revanth Reddy said Fadnavis had indicated his willingness to invite Telangana for talks after October 23. Officials informed him that the barrage would not submerge any villages in Maharashtra, though the barrage height at 152 metres would affect about 2,300 acres. At 150 metres, submergence would be less than 1,000 acres.
The Chief Minister directed officials to assess the impact and explore a height that would enable Telangana to draw maximum amount of water possible. He stressed the need to convince Maharashtra to approve 152 metres, as 148 metres would not provide the desired quantum. The state has been pursuing the project to extend irrigation and drinking water facilities to backward and drought-prone areas in undivided Adilabad district.