Telangana Pursues Pranahita Revival Through Technical Redesign, Seeks Maharashtra Coordination

Telangana's Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has accelerated efforts to revive the Pranahita–Chevella Lift Irrigation Project, instructing officials to develop technical proposals aimed at resolving interstate complications with Maharashtra regarding the Tummidihatti barrage.

The directive emerged from a comprehensive review meeting addressing the long-stalled irrigation initiative. The forthcoming dialogue with Maharashtra will concentrate on addressing regional concerns while moving the project forward, officials indicated.

During the meeting, the Minister emphasized the need to minimize land submergence in Maharashtra and protect the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary, while simultaneously committing to provide compensation for any affected communities.

Technical Foundation for Revival Discussions

Uttam Kumar Reddy underscored the importance of grounding all project discussions in rigorous technical analysis. He tasked his department with conducting detailed cost-benefit studies and examining multiple design alternatives to optimize the proposal.

The Minister particularly stressed the adoption of gravity-fed water distribution systems wherever technically viable, noting that such an approach would substantially lower operational expenses over the project's lifetime.

The original Pranahita–Chevella scheme envisioned a barrage at Tummidihatti, designed to transport water via gravity-based canal networks to water-scarce areas in northern Telangana and southern regions including Chevella through the Yellampalli distribution system.

Reassessing Previous Redesign Decisions

The previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi administration had restructured the initiative as the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, Uttam Kumar Reddy noted. Though this redesign expanded the irrigable area, it created significant reliance on energy-intensive pumping infrastructure.

The current administration intends to leverage existing systems while reintroducing gravity-based conveyance methods for enhanced cost efficiency. In pursuit of this objective, technical teams are evaluating four distinct alternative routes connecting Tummidihatti to Yellampalli.

The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad and RV Associates are jointly assessing these configurations, with the goal of reducing land acquisition requirements, minimizing pumping infrastructure, and decreasing overall project expenditure.

Concurrent geological and geotechnical investigations are underway to support the evaluation process. Separately, the government is accelerating restoration work on the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages ahead of the monsoon season.

These restoration activities are being executed under National Dam Safety Authority supervision, with comprehensive testing protocols and strict timelines established to ensure quality and safety standards.