Hyderabad: With Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis indicating his willingness to hold discussions after Oct 23, chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday directed officials to prepare extensively for what could be a crucial round of inter-state talks on the long-pending Tummidihatti barrage project, seen as key to addressing irrigation needs in the tribal-dominated undivided Adilabad region.At a review meeting held at his camp office on the MCR HRD Institute campus, Revanth assessed pending issues related to the proposed barrage as well as the Dindi and Achampet lift irrigation schemes. The meeting was attended by deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka, irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and D Sridhar Babu, Rajya Sabha member Vem Narender Reddy and senior irrigation officials.Officials briefed the chief minister on the quantity of water that could be diverted to the Yellampalli project if the barrage is constructed at a height of 152 metres compared to 150 metres. They informed him that the project would not result in the submergence of villages in Maharashtra.According to officials, a barrage at 152 metres would submerge around 2,300 acres, while lowering the height to 150 metres would reduce the affected area to less than 1,000 acres. Revanth directed officials to fully assess the submergence impact in Maharashtra and prepare a comprehensive proposal that maximises water diversion while addressing concerns of the neighbouring state.“Keep all details from the previous meetings held in Delhi between the two states under the aegis of the Central Water Commission (CWC) readily available and ensure that any information requested by the CWC is provided,” Revanth told the officials.The chief minister underlined the importance of the project for the undivided Adilabad district, saying the barrage is intended to provide irrigation to nearly two lakh acres in a region marked by vast forest cover, a large tribal population and longstanding socio-economic backwardness.He said constructive engagement with Maharashtra could help resolve the decades-old water shortage in the region and benefit forest-dwelling tribal communities that have long struggled under the banner of “jal, Jungle, zameen” (water, forest and land).Stressing the need to move quickly once a consensus is reached, Revanth directed officials to be ready with designs for the water conveyance system from Tummidihatti to Yellampalli and initiate land acquisition plans immediately after clarity emerges on the barrage height.Officials informed the meeting that Maharashtra had earlier agreed to a barrage height of 148 metres. However, the Telangana govt believes such a level would not enable diversion of the required quantity of water. The meeting discussed preparation of detailed technical reports covering water availability, submergence impacts and related aspects to persuade Maharashtra to agree to a height of 152 metres.The review also focused on water requirements for the Dindi and Achampet lift irrigation schemes. Revanth directed officials to make arrangements for lifting 0.5 tmc ft of water from the Yedula reservoir for the Dindi project and 0.1 tmc ft for the Achampet scheme.He further instructed that the required 0.6 tmc ft be sourced from the Srisailam reservoir and that a dedicated mechanism be created to lift additional water from Srisailam through Narlapur to Yedula.The meeting also examined concerns raised by public representatives from Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts regarding the sourcing of water for the Dindi project.Ministers backed the chief minister’s proposal to secure additional water for the Dindi and Achampet projects while ensuring that allocations for the Palamuru project remain unaffected.
