BJP MP DK Aruna has demanded that Telangana halt the Dindi Lift Irrigation project and cancel its tenders and contracts, alleging that the project would harm farmers in Mahabubnagar and the wider Palamuru region. Her opposition comes as Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy pursues inter-state approval for another irrigation project involving Maharashtra.
Aruna criticised Reddy’s decision to allocate water to the Dindi project and said the project was against the interests of farmers in Mahabubnagar, the Chief Minister’s home district. She said the BJP was “completely opposed” to the project and called for its immediate halt.
The MP also criticised the Chief Minister for supporting the project despite his political association with the region. She said farmers and residents of Palamuru would hold Reddy accountable if the project harmed their interests.
The demand places the Dindi project within a wider dispute over how Telangana’s irrigation infrastructure should allocate water between regions and projects. The report did not specify the contracts targeted by Aruna, the value of the tenders, the stage of construction or the government’s response to her demand.
Separately, Reddy left Hyderabad on Sunday evening for Mumbai to discuss the proposed Tummidihatti barrage with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The meeting is scheduled for 11 am on Monday at the Sahyadri State Guest House in Mumbai. Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior officials of the state Irrigation Department are also expected to participate.
The discussions will focus on constructing the barrage across the Pranahita river, a tributary of the Godavari, and securing the inter-state clearances required for the project. Telangana is seeking Maharashtra’s consent to construct the barrage at a Full Reservoir Level of 152 metres.
Maharashtra had earlier agreed to a height of 148 metres, according to the report. The Telangana government has maintained that the lower level would not allow it to divert the quantity of water required for the project.
The developments bring two separate irrigation decisions into the same political and administrative debate: the proposed cancellation of Dindi project contracts and negotiations with Maharashtra over the design level and clearances for Tummidihatti. Further action will depend on the state government’s response to Aruna’s demand and the outcome of the Telangana-Maharashtra meeting.
