Ending nearly a decade-long uncertainty over the prospects of Pranahita-Chevella project, the stage has been set finally for signing of an agreement between Telangana and Maharashtra, after engaging negotiations between the two States for over a year.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is also acting as the chairman of the inter-State river board on Godavari comprising the two States, will ink the agreement with his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on July 15 on the construction of Medigadda, Tummidihatti and Chankha-Korata barrages across the rivers Godavari and its tributaries.
“It’s going to be a historic event reiterating the Telangana Government’s policy of having cordial relations with all its neighbouring States,” Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao said on Monday.
He visited Mumbai about half-a-dozen times during the last one year to pursue the issue with Maharashtra.
Besides, Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao also visited Mumbai twice for holding talks on the barrages.
‘No objection’
Official sources stated that Maharashtra has already indicated that it has no objection for the Medigadda barrage in Karimnagar district, as part of the Kaleshwaram Project, with 101 meter full reservoir level (FRL) with the provision of water storage till 100 meter FRL with the help of crest gates. However, a final decision on water storage till 101 meter FRL in the barrage would be taken at the Chief Ministers’ meeting on July 15 before the formal signing of agreement.
Similarly, Maharashtra has also given its nod for the barrage with 148 meter FRL at Tummidihatti in Adilabad district across the Pranahita river.
The barrage, originally proposed at the take-off point of the Pranahita-Chevella project, remains a non-starter from 2007 due to serious objections raised by Maharashtra against its FRL of 152 meters.
Joint survey
A joint survey taken up by the two States on the possible submergence from Medigadda barrage was completed on April 19 this year.
The survey found that only 55 hectares land in the peripheries of 11 villages in Sironcha taluka of Gadichiroli district in Maharashtra would get submerged even with the water storage till 101 meter FRL.
Officials of the Irrigation Department said the agenda for the inter-state river board meeting would include fixing the FRL of Tummidihatti and Medigatta barrages, approval and cost sharing of Chankha-Korata barrage, construction of additional barrage at Digras by reducing the height of Pumprad-Parsoda barrage in Maharashtra.
