Joint Committee to Conduct Independent Study of Project’s Impact
Mumbai, October 2026: Maharashtra will independently examine issues related to the proposed increase in the height of Telangana’s Thumidihatti irrigation project, following a request from Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. A joint committee comprising the chief secretaries and secretaries of the water resources departments of both states will be constituted to study the technical aspects and the potential submergence of areas in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra will adopt a positive approach towards supporting Telangana while ensuring that the interests of its own citizens are protected, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis held a meeting with Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his delegation at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai. During the meeting, Revanth Reddy and Telangana Water Resources Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy briefed the Maharashtra Chief Minister on the Thumidihatti project and requested approval to increase its height from 148 metres to 152 metres.
Fadnavis said Maharashtra had consistently supported resolving issues involving neighbouring states through mutual cooperation. If a proposal benefits another state without causing losses to Maharashtra’s citizens, the state is open to taking a positive decision, he said.
Maharashtra had previously adopted a favourable position on Telangana’s proposal. However, subsequent observations indicated that the actual area affected by submergence following the earlier approval had increased beyond the area initially anticipated. Therefore, a detailed assessment of the potential impact of the revised proposal was necessary, Fadnavis said.
The proposed study will examine the impact of shifting the project site on the submergence area, the inclusion of the concerned wildlife sanctuary, and the extent of land required outside the riverbed.
If Telangana identifies any objections or shortcomings in Maharashtra’s assessment, officials from both states will discuss the issues. Expert opinions will also be sought, if necessary, the Chief Minister said.
Matters relating to water allocation and statutory clearances fall under the jurisdiction of the Central Water Commission. Once the Commission seeks Maharashtra’s views, the state will present its position based on facts and technical assessments.
Fadnavis said a decision on the project’s future would be taken after the independent study and technical discussions between the two states.
Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan participated in the meeting through video conferencing. Telangana Water Resources Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, Maharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, Telangana Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Lokesh Chandra, Principal Secretary Shrikar Pardeshi, Water Resources Department Principal Secretary Eknath Dawale, Secretaries Jayant Borkar and Prakash Misal, along with senior officials from the concerned departments, were also present.
