Tummidihatti with new alignment to address Maharashtra concerns?

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

The proposed Tummidihatti Barrage, a key component of the Pranahita project, has once again come into focus as the Telangana government moves forward with a revised strategy aimed at overcoming long-standing objections from Maharashtra. Officials say a new alignment has been designed to eliminate the submergence issues that have stalled the project for years. 

According to preliminary assessments, the redesigned structure would allow the barrage to be constructed at a Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 150 meters without causing flooding in Maharashtra territory or affecting the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary, concerns that were central to Maharashtra's opposition in the past. The Tummidihatti Barrage on the Pranahita River was considered a major irrigation project during the previous BRS government's tenure. However, the original design proposed a barrage height of 150 metres, which officials estimated would result in the submergence of nearly 1,500 acres in Maharashtra. 

Following discussions between the two states, it was decided to reduce the barrage height to 148 meters. While this reduced the submergence area to around 270 acres, it also significantly diminished the project's water storage capacity. As the state explores alternative strategies to maximize utilization of Godavari River waters, the Tummidihatti project has re-emerged as a priority. To address previous objections, irrigation officials have prepared a fresh alignment incorporating major design changes. The location of the proposed barrage on the Wainganga River has also been shifted. 

Officials believe these modifications will substantially reduce the backwater effect that previously raised concerns in Maharashtra. One of Maharashtra's principal objections centered on the potential impact on the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary. However, according to officials involved in the redesign process, the revised alignment eliminates any threat to the sanctuary.

A comprehensive technical study is currently being conducted to evaluate the revised alignment. The survey is being undertaken jointly by consultancy firm RV Associates and experts from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Obtaining environmental approvals remains another important milestone for the project. Earlier, the Union Ministry of Environment had granted clearances for the 148-metre barrage proposal, with environmental agencies concluding that the project's impact would remain limited.

For years, Maharashtra has opposed the barrage primarily on submergence-related grounds. Telangana officials believe that if scientific studies conclusively demonstrate that the revised design eliminates flooding concerns, there may be fewer reasons for continued opposition. As a result, discussions between the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Maharashtra are expected to play a decisive role in the project's future. Government sources say that if survey findings, technical approvals, environmental clearances, and political negotiations progress positively, the long-awaited green signal for the Tummidihatti Barrage could finally become a reality