A chief engineers-level meeting between Telangana and Maharashtra here on Monday failed to thrash out the critical issue of the height of the barrage of Pranahita-Chevella irrigation project, as conceived originally at Tummidihatti in Adilabad with Maharashtra sticking to its stand that it will not allow even a foot more than 148 metres. But, Telangana wanted the height at 152 metres and offered to negotiate a metre lower and definitely not less than that because it would not be possible to divert water from the barrage at such levels.
In these circumstances, the two sides decided to give finality to the data on submergence of land and flooding of water at different heights for the barrage in the next ten days. The two governments had earlier decided to do a joint survey on this, but Telangana completed its part whereas Maharashtra was yet to verify the figures, Advisor to Telangana government on irrigation R. Vidyasagar Rao told media persons after the meeting.
Maharashtra had always opposed the construction of the barrage as it was conceived at Tummidihatti with a height of 152 metres because large tracts of land in the State would submerge. Telangana countered the claim saying there were no official figures to support submergence because the fears of Maharashtra were based on a survey conducted in the combined Andhra Pradesh which did not reflect the true picture. Hence, it was decided to take up a joint survey and arrive at flood levels as determined by Pune-based Central Water Power Research Station.
The stand of Maharashtra that it could not agree to anything more than 148 metres was conveyed by its Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrasekhar when they met in Mumbai in February. The same situation continued, Mr. Rao said.
He also said the team from Maharashtra came on Monday without any mandate to agree above 148 metres. Even this height was not final to Maharashtra because it could still demand a lower barrage if the joint survey disclosed larger submergence than the projected figures.
Meanwhile, the fate of the barrage hinges on a political decision that might emerge from the winter session of Maharashtra Assembly in Nagpur in December. The Chandrapur MP and Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir created a political storm that the barrage could be constructed even at a height of 160 metres if the local leadership of Bid district was taken into confidence and that “he will do his bit”. Rasik M. Chauhan, Chief Engineer of Maharahstra, said the entire Ashti taluq would submerge at 160 metres height of barrage. The Maharashtra government was requested to disown Mr. Ahir’s statement.
