Maharashtra Seeks Technical Report Before Talks on Tummidihatti Barrage

Efforts by the Telangana government to hold discussions with Maharashtra over the proposed Tummidihatti barrage remain stalled, as Maharashtra requires a concrete technical proposal and clearances before agreeing to chief minister-level talks.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had sent letters seeking a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the project's height and related parameters. However, sources familiar with the matter indicated that mere letters expressing an intent to build a 150-metre-high barrage are insufficient for bilateral discussions, and the correspondence currently rests with Maharashtra's irrigation department.

For meaningful bilateral discussions to proceed, Telangana must submit a pre-feasibility report (PFR) to the Central Water Commission (CWC) to secure an initial hydrological nod. A PFR establishes baseline parameters regarding water utilisation and design concepts to determine storage capacity and full reservoir level. Only after the PFR is approved can a detailed project report (DPR) proceed towards statutory clearances.

Friction also arose following remarks made by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy during a public meeting in Kagaznagar on June 1, which Maharashtra leadership viewed as an ultimatum rather than a formal dialogue request. Officials indicated that without a formal technical submission through the CWC, Telangana's outreach risks being perceived as political posturing rather than project execution.

Under the new proposal, Telangana plans to construct a 6.5-kilometre-long, two-part structure with a connecting wall ahead of the confluence of the Wainganga and Wardha rivers. The project aims to channel approximately 80 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of water to Sundilla, from where it would move to Annaram and eventually reach the Sripada Yellampalli reservoir.