TS, Maharashtra take up Pranahita issue

Both States decide to finalise alignment of barrage. The Maharashtra government has agreed to convene the meeting of the standing committee for implementation of the project, comprising officers of both States, a release here on behalf of Mr. Harish Rao said.

Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao and Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna (extreme left) at the meeting of Telangana and Maharashtra irrigation officials in Mumbai on Wednesday. Photo: By Special Arrangement

A meeting of Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao with his Maharashtra counterpart Hasan Mushrif at Mumbai on Wednesday decided to finalise the alignment for Pranahita barrage, submergence area, full reservoir level and related issues by next month.

The Maharashtra government has agreed to convene the meeting of the standing committee for implementation of the project, comprising officers of both States, a release here on behalf of Mr. Harish Rao said.

It said the Telangana State agreed to reconfirm the inter-State agreement with Maharashtra for implementation of Lower Penganga project on the outskirts of Adilabad. Maharashtra agreed to delink the barrage proposals downstream of Penganga dam from the main project and pursue clearances with the Central Water Commission. Pending the main project, it will also take up a detailed investigation of the barrage which will irrigate 49,000 acres of land in Tamsi, Janath and Bela mandals of Adilabad. Telangana will furnish environmental impact assessment, environmental management plan and also secure forest and other clearances.

On the Lendi project in Nizamabad, it was decided that Maharashtra will complete all works, including canal and aqueduct, by July next year. Telangana will contribute its share of escalation in the cost of the inter-State project which will irrigate 22,000 acres in Bichkunda and Maddur mandals of the district.

Staff Reporter adds: Both the governments have agreed to jointly address issues which have become irritants in the progress of various inter-State irrigation projects.

The 90-minute meeting discussed problems related to design and submergence owing to the main barrage of Pranahita. The teams also considered construction of three barrages downstream of Penganga project. One of these, the Ruda barrage, will solely be funded by Telangana. “The Maharashtra government held discussions cordially showing its keenness to work hand-in-hand with the Telangana government,” Sirpur MLA Koneru Konappa, a member of the team, summed up the meeting.

Others who were in the Telangana team were Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna, representative of the State government in New Delhi S. Venugopalachary, Jukkal MLA Hanmanth Shinde and Advisor to government on irrigation R. Vidyasagar Rao.