Hyderabad, June 12: Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy held a crucial meeting with Vishnu Deo Sai in Hyderabad, seeking an early No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the proposed Sammakka-Sarakka Barrage project on the Telangana–Chhattisgarh border. The minister formally submitted a request on behalf of the Telangana government, emphasizing that the pending NOC is the final hurdle preventing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) from receiving clearance by the Central Water Commission (CWC).
During the discussions at Park Hyatt Hyderabad, Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted the importance of the project for Telangana’s irrigation sector and farmer welfare. He said the Congress-led state government is prioritizing the effective utilization of Godavari waters and the completion of long-pending irrigation projects. According to the minister, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai responded positively and assured that the request would be examined sympathetically.
The minister said most technical and regulatory approvals for the project have already been secured from various directorates of the Central Water Commission and other agencies. Joint surveys of submergence and backwater impact areas have also been conducted by engineers from both states. Telangana has reportedly released ₹9.883 crore to support further survey work in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district and has expressed readiness to provide compensation for any affected land, including depositing funds in advance if required.
Originally conceived under the undivided Andhra Pradesh government's PV Narasimha Rao Kanthanapalli Sujala Sravanthi scheme, the project was later redesigned after Telangana’s formation. The proposed barrage location was shifted to Thupakulagudem in Mulugu district following technical studies, significantly reducing the submergence impact in Chhattisgarh. The project aims to divert 46.96 TMC of Godavari water to stabilize nearly 4.4 lakh acres under the SRSP Stage-II command area while also bringing additional land under irrigation through the Ramappa-Pakala Link Canal.
Officials said the barrage is expected to benefit lakhs of farmers across Suryapet, Mahabubabad, Khammam, Warangal, Jangaon and Mulugu districts, while also strengthening drinking water supply in several villages. Telangana has been pursuing the NOC for nearly two years through multiple representations to Chhattisgarh and the Union government. With surveys progressing and inter-state discussions moving forward, officials are optimistic that the NOC could be issued soon, paving the way for final DPR approval and implementation of the long-awaited project.
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