Compiled from reports by Telangana Today and Deccan Chronicle. See the original articles linked below.
Maharashtra has indicated that it is willing to look again at Telangana's proposal to build the Tummidihatti barrage on the Pranahita river at a greater height, following a meeting between the chief ministers of the two states in Mumbai on Monday, 26 October.
According to Telangana Today, a Telangana delegation headed by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and including Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The newspaper reported that the Maharashtra government responded positively to the request, on the condition that the project does not harm Maharashtra or its people.
The height at issue
Both Telangana Today and the Deccan Chronicle reported that the two states agreed in 2016 on a barrage height of 148 metres. Telangana Today said the Telangana side argued that this level would not be enough for the irrigation needs of the region, and asked for 152 metres so that water could be carried largely by gravity. The Deccan Chronicle, which described the plan as a way to serve the erstwhile Adilabad district, carried the same figures.
Compensation offer
The Deccan Chronicle reported that Telangana offered to pay compensation to farmers whose land would go under water, in line with Maharashtra's compensation policies. Telangana Today similarly said the compensation would follow Maharashtra's land acquisition guidelines and would apply to Maharashtra farmers affected by submergence.
Fadnavis's response
Telangana Today reported that Fadnavis said a number of technical, environmental and administrative steps would have to be completed before any decision is taken, and that the Central Water Commission would carry on with its own studies. The Deccan Chronicle said Fadnavis told the meeting that Maharashtra would reconsider the proposal and back it if it did not hurt the state or its residents, while noting that technical and environmental assessments were needed.
Joint committee
Both outlets said a joint committee was agreed on or proposed. Telangana Today wrote that Fadnavis suggested a panel led by the Principal Secretaries of the Irrigation Departments of both states. According to that report, it would examine the barrage height, availability of water, submergence, the lands affected, compensation and alternatives. Officials and experts from the two states were asked to prepare a timeline and roadmap for further discussions, Telangana Today reported.
The Deccan Chronicle described the committee's remit as covering height, water availability, submergence, technical feasibility and a construction timeline. Its headline described the panel as having been set up, while Telangana Today's headline said Maharashtra had proposed it, so the two outlets differ slightly in how final they present the arrangement.
Other matters
The Deccan Chronicle added that Revanth Reddy invited Fadnavis to the Invest Telangana Global Summit in December, and that Fadnavis said he would try to attend.
Neither outlet reported that Maharashtra had approved the higher barrage. The reports describe an agreement to examine the proposal through the committee and continuing technical studies.
Sources
- Tummidihatti Barrage: Maharashtra Proposes Joint Committee With Telangana (Telangana Today, 2026-10-26)
- Telangana, Maharashtra Set Up Joint Panel on Tummidihatti (Deccan Chronicle, 2026-10-26)
This article was compiled with AI assistance from the reports listed above and reviewed by GMA before publishing.