State Pins Hopes On Maha For Lift-Free Water Transfer From Tummidihatti To Sundilla

Hyderabad: Telangana’s pitch to Maharashtra to allow the construction of a barrage at Tummidihatti with a full reservoir level of 152 metres, against the previously agreed-upon level of 148 metres in 2016, is designed to ensure that water can be brought from the proposed barrage at the confluence of the Wardha and Wainganga rivers to the Godavari without resorting to energy-intensive lifting. Instead, Telangana plans to rely on gravity.

At Tuesday’s meeting with Maharashtra in New Delhi, with the Central Water Commission acting as the facilitator between the two states, Telangana said that if Maharashtra agreed to a level of 152 metres, it could nearly double its annual drawal from 43 tmcft to 80 tmcft without affecting Maharashtra’s water rights.

Telangana plans to convey the water by gravity through a combination of two canals and a tunnel linking them from Tummidihatti to the Sundilla barrage — one of the three Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme barrages on the Godavari.

In its detailed presentation aimed at allaying Maharashtra’s concerns about the possible submergence of villages, Telangana said that no villages would be affected even at the 152-metre level. While the original proposal agreed upon in 2016 would have resulted in the submergence of 1,506 acres, including 295 acres in the eco-sensitive zone of the Chapral wildlife sanctuary, the submerged area would rise to 3,875 acres at 152 metres, Telangana said. It added that 2,156 acres of this area would be on the riverbed itself, while 545 acres would be land associated with the sanctuary.

On Tuesday, Telangana’s presentation included land-submergence details for every one-metre increase in height from 148 metres to 152 metres. State officials said that they hoped Maharashtra would agree to the height of 152 metres. This, the officials said, is the most beneficial height, as it eliminates the need to lift water for conveyance to the Sundilla barrage.

Telangana’s plans include a two-pronged barrage, with one leg across the Wardha and another across the Wainganga, and both sections connected. The plan is to convey water from the barrage to Sundilla through a nearly 77-km gravity canal that will connect to a 20.9-km-long tunnel and then join another 8.25-km gravity canal.

The entire project is expected to cost around Rs 12,300 crore. However, the final plans, designs and cost will depend on whether Maharashtra agrees to a structure with an FRL of 152 metres or asks Telangana to reduce its height to limit submergence in that state.