Thummidihatti Barrage at the Forefront of Pranahitha-Chevella Revival

The Telangana government has revived the long-pending Pranahitha-Chevella irrigation project, with plans to construct a barrage at Thummidihatti village near the Maharashtra border. The project aims to irrigate several lakh acres in the erstwhile Adilabad district.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy have reaffirmed their commitment to the initiative. Preparatory activities are underway, including documentation and technical testing for construction. Irrigation Advisor Adityanath Das has been appointed to oversee the project, and original contractors are being consulted regarding their willingness to resume work at revised rates.

The proposed Full Reservoir Level (FRL) for the Thummidihatti barrage is set at 148 meters, as mutually agreed with Maharashtra in 2015 and 2016. While a detailed project report (DPR) was earlier submitted to the Central Water Commission, revisions may be necessary due to updated cost estimates. Initially pegged at ₹17,875 crore, the project's cost later escalated to ₹36,257 crore.

By 2016, approximately ₹11,678 crore had already been spent before the project was integrated into the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.