New Delhi, Sept 29 (PTI) Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday met Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil and urged him to facilitate talks with the Maharashtra government to resolve inter-state clearance issues over the proposed Tummidihetti barrage.
Accompanied by state Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, the chief minister told Patil that the state had submitted a proposal to Maharashtra, a statement issued by the Telangana government said.
He asked the Centre to expedite an agreement between the two states for building the barrage at a full reservoir level (FRL) of +152 metres.
The project is stalled over the barrage’s height. Maharashtra had earlier agreed to about 148m, while Telangana wants 150-152m to improve irrigation coverage.
Revanth Reddy said a 152m FRL would allow water to flow to the Yellampalli project by gravity, cutting electricity consumption and pumping costs.
The barrage is meant to revive the irrigation objectives of the Pranahita-Chevella scheme, which is to supply water to northern Telangana.
The chief minister also sought early clearances for pending projects in the Krishna and Godavari basins. He asked for environmental clearances for the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, the Dindi Lift Irrigation Scheme, the Sitarama Sagar Multipurpose Project and the Gauravelli reservoir, citing the recent guidelines issued after a Supreme Court verdict on environmental clearances.
On the Sammakka Sagar project, Revanth Reddy asked for quick approval of the pending clearances from the Central Water Commission (CWC).
A detailed project report has been submitted to the CWC seeking approval of the irrigation plan and inter-state aspects, he said, adding that talks were on with Chhattisgarh for a no-objection certificate.
The two leaders also discussed the pending installation of a telemetry system by the Krishna River Management Board. The chief minister said the state had already deposited Rs 4.15 crore for the first phase and urged swift completion of all three phases.
State minister G Vivek Venkatswamy, MP Gaddam Vamsi Krishna, MLA Gaddam Vinod, government advisor (irrigation) Adityanath Das and the chief minister’s secretary Manikraj were present at the meeting. PTI LUX ARI
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