Uttam wants Tummidihatti alignments keeping in mind eco issues, asks for realistic solutions

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Minister for Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy at a meeting on Tummidihatti barrage proposal, in Hyderabad on Saturday. | Photo Credit: By Arrangement

Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday instructed officials to work out technically-sound and pragmatic solutions to the concerns being raised by Maharashtra over the proposed barrage at Tummidihatti across the Pranahita river with 152 metres height (full reservoir level), particularly on the submergence and environmental issues involved.

As a follow up to the recent talks with Maharashtra government on the barrage proposal, the Minister reviewed the project’s technical aspects and alignments, emphasising the need for a comprehensive assessment of the land likely to be affected or submerged at different reservoir levels.

He asked the officials to prepare detailed maps identifying the riverbed areas, forest and eco-sensitive zones, protected core areas, revenue lands and human habitations to establish the actual extent of submergence. He highlighted that engineering modifications should be examined to minimise environmental impact and address Maharashtra’s concerns without compromising the project’s irrigation objectives.

He pointed out that Telangana was seeking to raise the barrage’s FRL from 148 metres, as agreed between the two States in 2016, to 152 metres to improve water storage and utilisation. The proposal was discussed during the October 26 meeting between Chief Ministers A. Revanth Reddy and Devendra Fadnavis, along with the Irrigation and Water Resources Ministers and officials of the two States in Mumbai.

The barrage was being proposed to divert 77 tmc ft of water and was expected to support irrigating over 5.85 lakh acres across seven districts of Telangana through an integrated system involving Sundilla Barrage and Sripada Yellampalli Project.

At the proposed FRL of 152 metres, storage capacity would increase to 5.697 tmc ft from 2.182 tmc ft at 148 metres, more than doubling the storage potential.

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