Thummadihetti Project: Maharashtra Seeks Technical Review Before Nod
Maharashtra will undertake an independent review of the proposed increase in height of Telangana's Thummadihetti irrigation project, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Monday. The state aims to safeguard local interests while sustaining collaborative ties with its neighbour.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting. A delegation headed by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy had requested formal consent from Maharashtra to raise the project's height from 148 metres to 152 metres.
Speaking after the meeting, Fadnavis underlined Maharashtra's practice of solving issues with neighbouring states through dialogue. He said the state has a positive attitude toward helping Telangana, provided no harm comes to the citizens of Maharashtra.
He acknowledged that earlier approvals indicated the actual submergence area was larger than preliminary estimates. As a result, the government has directed the creation of a joint committee made up of the chief secretaries and irrigation secretaries of both states. The committee will prepare a detailed technical appraisal.
The joint study will assess how relocating project sites would affect submerged areas. It will also consider nearby wildlife sanctuaries and the quantity of non-riverbed land required for the project.
Technical objections or discrepancies raised by Telangana regarding Maharashtra's study will be examined jointly by officials from both states. Experts will be consulted if needed.
Fadnavis stated that water allocation and statutory approvals come under the jurisdiction of the Central Water Commission (CWC). When the CWC seeks the state's response, Maharashtra will submit its official stand based on factual conclusions. The final call on the project will follow the independent technical review and further discussions.
The Dr. BR Ambedkar Pranahita-Chevella project includes the Thummadihetti scheme as a major component. The site is on the Pranahita river, a tributary of the Godavari, at Thummadihetti village in Kautala mandal of Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district, earlier called Adilabad district, in Telangana.
The scheme is designed to irrigate about 2 lakh acres of drought-hit land in Adilabad district. It intends to meet local irrigation needs by utilising water from the Pranahita river.
Telangana is advocating a barrage height of 152 metres, which could submerge about 2,300 acres, in order to maximise water use and gravity flow. Meanwhile, Maharashtra is discussing lower-height options such as 150 metres to minimise land submergence in its region.
Among those present, in person or via video conferencing, were Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, Maharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, Telangana Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Lokesh Chandra, Principal Secretary Shrikar Pardeshi, Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department Eknath Dawale, Secretaries Jayant Borkar and Prakash Misal, and other senior officials from both states.