Objections by Maharashtra, non-availability of water led to change of main barrage location: Harish Rao

Former Irrigation and Finance minister T. Harish Rao explains re-engineering of Kaleshwaram project to Justice P.C. Ghose Commission.

HYDERABAD

Former Irrigation and Finance minister, and senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) T. Harish Rao appeared before the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission of Inquiry on the alleged irregularities in the construction of Kaleshwaram project barrages, in Hyderabad on Monday (June 9, 2025). He explained the reasons behind re-engineering of Pranahita-Chevella project and changing location of the main barrage (Tummidihatti).

In his examination by Justice Ghose, Mr. Rao deposed that Telangana government was forced to re-engineer the project in 2014-15 due to the objections raised by Maharashtra against construction of the barrage at Tummidihatti at 152-meter full reservoir level (FRL) — as proposed by the then combined Andhra Pradesh government — as it posed a submergence threat to a large number of villages in Maharashtra; non-availability of 165 tmc ft water proposed to be utilised for Pranahita-Chevella project at 148-meter level FRL as assessed by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and difficulties involved in getting the wildlife clearance due to its submergence threat.

He informed the Commission that despite repeated pleas by Telangana, including at the Chief Ministers’ level, both during the Congress government first and BJP regime later at the Centre, Maharashtra did not agree for barrage at 152-meter FRL.

Further, the BRS leader told the Commission that the then Congress Government of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, which was in power during 2004-14, had failed to construct the barrage at Tummidihatti by convincing the same party governments in Maharashtra and at the Centre, though the foundation stone for the project was laid in 2007. In the absence of Maharashtra’s inter-State approval and any other clearance, the then government put the head works (Tummidihatti barrage) in cold storage and went ahead with excavation of canals and construction of tunnels.

Such an expenditure was termed as “wasteful” by the then Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chauhan in a letter addressed to his counterpart in Andhra Pradesh N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, making it clear that Maharashtra would not agree for the barrage construction at Tummidihatti at 152-meter FRL, Mr. Harish Rao told the Commission and submitted documents in support of his deposition. He added that the main barrage location site was shifted to Medigadda based on higher water availability (as per CWC assessment) and recommendations of a technical committee.

On being asked whether the Kaleshwaram Irrigation Project Corporation had the government approval, the BRS leader said “yes, it had” and submitted supporting documents. On the changes in location of Annaram and Sundilla barrages, Mr. Harish Rao told the Commission that it was purely a technical decision based on engineers’ detailed survey.