CM Revanth Directs Officials to Coordinate With Maharashtra on Tummidihatti Barrage, Offers Full Submergence Compensation
He directed officials to provide all information sought by Maharashtra without delay and ensure that technical and other project-related details were readily available for the next round of discussions.
Hyderabad:Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed irrigation officials to maintain close coordination with the Maharashtra government and continue dialogue to resolve outstanding issues concerning the proposed Tummidihatti barrage across the Pranahita river. He asked officials to furnish comprehensive details of the proposed project, particularly the extent of land likely to be submerged in Maharashtra, and exchange all relevant documents, including existing agreements, to facilitate further discussions.
Revanth Reddy reviewed with minister Uttam Kumar Reddy and officials, the outcome of recent discussions with Maharashtra and suggested measures to take the project forward at a review meeting here on Tuesday. Irrigation adviser Adityanath Das, irrigation secretary E. Sridhar, engineer-in-chief Ramesh and senior officials attended the meeting
The Chief Minister said Telangana was prepared to pay adequate compensation for any land in Maharashtra affected by the proposed barrage and was willing to deposit the required funds in a joint account of the two state governments. He also made it clear that Telangana would have no objection to Maharashtra conducting an independent survey to assess the extent of submergence.
He directed officials to provide all information sought by Maharashtra without delay and ensure that technical and other project-related details were readily available for the next round of discussions.
The directions assume significance in the wake of the October 26 meeting between Revanth Reddy and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. Telangana sought permission to construct the barrage at a height of 152 metres, against the 148 metres agreed upon in 2016, arguing that the earlier height would not meet the irrigation requirements of the erstwhile Adilabad district. Telangana maintained that the taller barrage would facilitate greater gravity-based water conveyance and reduce dependence on costly pumping.
Fadnavis proposed a joint committee headed by the principal secretaries of the irrigation separtments of both states to examine the barrage height, water availability, submergence, affected agricultural land, compensation and technical feasibility. The panel would also prepare a roadmap and timeline for further action. Officials had estimated that a 152-metre barrage could submerge around 2,300 acres in Maharashtra, while a 150-metre structure would affect less than 1,000 acres, without submerging any villages. Telangana said the project was intended to provide irrigation to two lakh acres in the tribal-dominated, backward regions of erstwhile Adilabad district.
