Revanth Reddy Urges Centre to Fast Track Irrigation and Environmental Clearances

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has appealed to the Central Government to speed up approvals for key irrigation projects by facilitating discussions with Maharashtra on the Tummidihatti Barrage and granting environmental clearances for four major projects pending before the Union Government.

During his visit to New Delhi, the Chief Minister, accompanied by Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav. Separate representations were submitted seeking faster action on issues that the state considers crucial for irrigation and regional development.

In his meeting with CR Patil, Revanth Reddy requested the Centre to help obtain Maharashtra’s approval for increasing the proposed height of the Tummidihatti Barrage on the Pranahita River. He explained that raising the Full Reservoir Level from the previously agreed 148 metres to 150 to 152 metres would enable gravity based water supply, reducing dependence on lift irrigation and ensuring adequate water availability for the backward regions of the undivided Adilabad district.

The Chief Minister referred to a scientific assessment conducted by the Central Water and Power Research Station in Pune, which found no significant increase in the submergence area if the barrage height is raised to 152 metres. He noted that nearly half of the affected area would remain within the riverbed, limiting the impact on upstream regions in Maharashtra.

Responding to the request, Union Minister CR Patil assured the Telangana delegation that the Central Water Commission would initiate technical discussions involving officials from Telangana and Maharashtra. He also said that a meeting of the irrigation ministers from both states would be arranged to work towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Revanth Reddy also met Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, urging him to grant environmental clearances for the Palamuru Rangareddy, Gouravelli, Seethamma Sagar and Dindi irrigation projects. The Chief Minister informed the Union Minister that Telangana had already invested substantial funds in these projects, but construction progress had slowed because mandatory environmental approvals were still pending.

According to the state government, delays in obtaining clearances have increased project costs and postponed benefits to farmers. Revanth Reddy requested the Centre to expedite approvals, especially in light of the recent Supreme Court judgment allowing environmental clearances to be processed even after construction has commenced in eligible cases.

The Telangana government believes that timely approvals for these projects will strengthen irrigation infrastructure, improve agricultural productivity and support long term economic development across several districts of the state.