Revanth Reddy Appeals for Swift Maharashtra Clearance on Tummidihatti Project

On Tuesday, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy called on Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil to advocate for the Maharashtra government's prompt clearance of the Tummidihatti barrage project. This request comes as part of a broader appeal for expedited environmental approvals for multiple irrigation initiatives in Telangana, particularly those impacting the Krishna and Godavari river basins.

During a meeting in Delhi, Revanth Reddy emphasized that Telangana had already provided all necessary information to Maharashtra concerning the Tummidihatti barrage. He urged the Centre to facilitate a swift agreement between the two states, which would allow for the construction of the barrage at a full reservoir level of 152 meters. This elevation is crucial as it would enable water to flow to the Yellampalli reservoir via gravity, significantly reducing the energy costs associated with water lifting.

In addition to the Tummidihatti project, the Chief Minister pressed for immediate environmental clearances for several other key projects, including the Palamuru-Rangareddy and Dindi lift irrigation schemes, as well as the Sitaramasagar multipurpose project and the Gouravelli reservoir. He highlighted that delays in obtaining these approvals were inflating construction costs, particularly in light of new guidelines issued by the Centre following a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Revanth Reddy also highlighted the need for the Central Water Commission (CWC) to expedite pending approvals for the Sammakkasagar project. He noted that Telangana had submitted a detailed project report to the CWC and was actively engaging with the Chhattisgarh government to secure a no-objection certificate for the project. The Chief Minister reiterated the importance of timely approvals to ensure the efficient execution of these vital irrigation projects.

Furthermore, he requested the Union Minister to accelerate the installation of telemetry devices under the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), which are essential for monitoring the utilization of Krishna water. Telangana has already allocated ₹4.15 crore for the first phase of this initiative and is keen on completing it promptly, along with the subsequent phases. The meeting included key officials such as Minister G. Vivek Venkataswamy and state government adviser Adityanath Das, emphasizing the collaborative effort required to advance these projects.