PMO initiates review of Tummidihatti barrage

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The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has forwarded Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's representation on the long-pending Tummidihatti Barrage project to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for examination and comments, marking a significant step in the Centre's consideration of the state's request. According to the official communication sent a few days ago, the PMO directed the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to examine the Chief Minister's letter dated June 11 and submit its comments.

In his letter to PM Modi, Reddy sought intervention to facilitate discussions with the Maharashtra govt regarding the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of the proposed barrage, on the Pranahita River under the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanthi Project. The Chief Minister said Telangana intends to revive the original concept of utilizing Godavari waters through gravity based irrigation, arguing that an FRL higher than the previously agreed 148 metres would improve water utilization, reduce long term pumping costs and enhance irrigation and drinking water supply to districts such as Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Medak.

The letter also cited studies by the Central Water and Power Research Station stating that increasing the FRL would result only in marginal additional submergence, with no impact on dwelling houses or the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary, strengthening Telangana's case for a mutually agreeable resolution with Maharashtra.