Telangana and Karnataka explore joint barrage project for water storage & supply

HYDERABAD: Telangana has proposed construction of a barrage downstream of the Narayanapura dam on the Krishna river as part of a joint plan with Karnataka to address drinking water needs and support existing lift irrigation schemes in both the states.The proposal was discussed on Monday during a meeting between Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Karnataka minor irrigation minister NS Boseraju, along with Raichur MP G Kumar Naik and Telangana ministers Vakiti Srihari and Jupally Krishna Rao at the secretariat. Minister Uttam Reddy also made a detailed presentation on the project and its potential benefits.The state govt has identified three possible locations downstream of the Narayanapura spillway - near Shaktinagar bridge, near Ganjapalli village and near Koratakunda village - for the proposed barrage aimed at supplying drinking water to nearby villages and creating storage for use by both states. Officials said Koratakunda emerged as the most suitable site after technical and economic studies, with the proposed structure capable of storing one tmcft of water at a full reservoir level (FRL) of 332 metres.Talks positive: Minister"The FRL of the proposed barrage is fixed such that it does not interfere with the FRL of any existing upstream barrage. The Gurjapur barrage, located approximately 10 to 15 km upstream, has an FRL of 336 metres," Uttam Reddy explained to Karnataka officials.Uttam Reddy described the discussions with Karnataka as positive and focused on better utilisation of Krishna waters for agriculture and drinking purposes."Both the govts would come to an agreement to protect the mutual interests and benefit the people of both the states," the irrigation minister said. "We have presented a permanent solution to the drinking water problem through interstate coordination to Karnataka," he said.