Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on October 26 to address interstate clearance issues holding up the proposed Tummidihetti barrage across the Godavari River.
Reddy will be accompanied by Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and officials at the meeting at the Sahyadri state guest house, according to a press release reported by PTI. Telangana is seeking Maharashtra’s consent because the proposed barrage on the interstate border would cause submergence in parts of the neighbouring state.
The central issue is the height of the barrage. Maharashtra had earlier agreed to a height of around 148 metres, while Telangana is seeking a full reservoir level (FRL) of 150 to 152 metres. The difference has stalled progress on the project and remains a key point in the discussions between the two states.
Telangana has argued that an FRL of 152 metres would allow water to flow by gravity to the Yellampalli project. The state government says this would reduce the electricity consumption and pumping costs associated with moving water through the irrigation network. The proposed structure is intended to support the irrigation objectives of the Pranahita-Chevella scheme, which aims to supply water to northern Telangana.
Reddy had raised the issue with Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil during a meeting in Delhi on September 29. He urged the Centre to facilitate talks with Maharashtra and expedite an agreement between the two states. Telangana had submitted a proposal to Maharashtra seeking consent for the project and the proposed reservoir level.
The clearance issue illustrates the administrative process involved in developing water infrastructure on an interstate river. While Telangana is the project-proposing state, the barrage’s submergence implications require Maharashtra’s agreement before construction can move forward. The final height will determine the extent to which the structure can support the planned irrigation system and whether the two states can reach a mutually acceptable arrangement.
The Tummidihetti barrage is linked to Telangana’s effort to revive the irrigation objectives of the Pranahita-Chevella scheme. The outcome of the chief ministers’ meeting is expected to determine the next stage of discussions on the project’s height, interstate consent and related clearances.
