CWC Move Sparks Tummidihatti Talks

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has convened a crucial meeting of Telangana and Maharashtra on September 1 in Delhi to review technical and interstate issues related to the proposed Tummidihatti barrage on the Pranahita River.

Senior officials from the Water Resources Departments of Telangana and Maharashtra have been invited to attend the meeting, which the CWC Chairman will chair.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the CWC called the meeting of the two states following efforts by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy with the Centre to resolve the issue relating to the proposed construction of the Tummidihatti barrage.

CM Revanth Reddy wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on May 26, requesting a meeting between the two states to reach a mutually acceptable solution.

The Chief Minister also raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) forwarded the CM’s letter to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, CM Revanth Reddy subsequently wrote a special letter to Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil on August 5 seeking the Centre’s active intervention.

The Telangana government is seeking to secure an agreement to construct the barrage at a height of 152 metres, instead of the 148 metres previously agreed upon by Maharashtra.

The State has already told the Centre that drawing the required volume of water by gravity is not feasible at a height of 148 metres and that using massive pumps would increase electricity costs.

The Telangana government argues that the barrage should be constructed to ensure long‑term benefits for the state.

Earlier, the government also told the Centre that, according to Central Water & Power Research Station (CWPRS) studies, the additional submergence from raising the water level would be mitigated.

The government has been continuously engaging with the Centre and Maharashtra to expeditiously implement the crucial Tummidihatti project and provide irrigation facilities to backward and drought‑prone areas.