Uttam Reviews Tummidihatti Alignments, Calls For Pragmatic Solutions

Hyderabad:Irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to work out technically sound and pragmatic solutions to the concerns being raised by Maharashtra over the proposed Tummidihatti barrage at a height of 152 metres, particularly on submergence and environmental issues.

As a follow-up to recent talks between Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis on October 26, Uttam Kumar Reddy, who was present at the meeting, on Saturday reviewed the project’s technical aspects and alignments and emphasising the need for a comprehensive assessment of the land likely to be affected at different barrage levels.

He asked officials to prepare detailed maps identifying riverbed areas, forest and eco-sensitive zones, protected core areas, revenue land and habitations to establish the actual extent of submergence.

Uttam Kumar Reddy stressed that engineering modifications should be examined to minimise environmental impact and address Maharashtra's concerns without compromising the project's irrigation objectives. Telangana is seeking to raise the barrage's full reservoir level (FRL) from 148 metres to 152 metres to facilitate easier flow of water to downstream structures.

The barrage is designed to divert 77 tmc of water and is expected to support irrigation over 5.85 lakh acres across seven districts through an integrated system involving Sundilla barrage and Sripada Yellampalli project.

At the proposed FRL of 152 metres, storage capacity would more than double to 5.697 tmc ft against 2.182 tmc ft at 148 metres.

The project assessment indicated that it involved minimal submergence and rehabilitation and resettlement requirements could be addressed in both Telangana and Maharashtra even at the proposed 152-metre level.