Pranahita–Chevella Project revival: Telangana minister Uttam Kumar Reddy commits to construction
Synopsis
Telangana's Congress government is pushing ahead with the Pranahita–Chevella Project revival — a direct reversal of the BRS-era decision to fold the scheme into Kaleshwaram. With four proposals from RV Associates and IIT Hyderabad on the table and a CM-level review pending, the project's fate could reshape irrigation access for lakhs of acres in northern Telangana.
Key Takeaways
Irrigation Minister N.
Uttam Kumar Reddy reaffirmed commitment to the Pranahita–Chevella Project on 29 April 2025 .
RV Associates and IIT Hyderabad have submitted four alternative proposals , currently under analysis for cost, feasibility, and constraints.
A final decision will be taken after a review meeting with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy .
Restoration of Medigadda, Sundilla, and Annaram barrages under the Kaleshwaram project must be completed before the monsoon .
The Congress government has framed the revival as correcting a 'historic mistake' by the previous BRS regime.
Regular progress updates are to be submitted to the National Dam Safety Authority .
Telangana's irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday, 29 April reaffirmed the state government's commitment to constructing the Pranahita–Chevella Project, stating that proposals have been prepared in line with the Congress government's election manifesto promise. The project, which aims to divert water from Tummidihatti to Yellampalli to provide irrigation to lakhs of acres across the region, has emerged as a key political and infrastructural priority for the Telangana government.
Four Proposals Under Review
RV Associates and IIT Hyderabad have jointly submitted four alternative proposals for the project's alignment. Each proposal is being thoroughly analysed on parameters including cost, feasibility, advantages, and constraints. A final decision will be taken after a review meeting with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, the minister said. The government is also examining alternative proposals for the same alignment as part of its due diligence process.
Kaleshwaram Barrage Restoration in Focus
A special review meeting was held at the minister's camp office to discuss both the alternative alignments and the restoration works of Medigadda, Sundilla, and Annaram barrages — all part of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to complete all required tests for the three barrages before the onset of the monsoon.
He specified that Standard Penetration Tests (SPT) must be conducted at intervals of every 1.5 metres, and permeability tests at every 3 metres. During drilling, even if rock is encountered, boreholes must be extended up to 5 metres into the rock. The coordination committee appointed for barrage restoration has been instructed to visit the sites and fix timelines.
Background: Reversing the BRS Decision
The Congress government last year decided to revive the Pranahita–Chevella Project across the Godavari River in the erstwhile Adilabad district. The revival is framed as correcting what the party describes as a 'historic mistake' committed by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime, which had merged the original Pranahita–Chevella project into the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. Critics of the BRS decision had long argued that the merger compromised irrigation access to drought-prone northern Telangana districts.
Oversight and Compliance Measures
The minister directed the Director of Central Water and Power Research Station to remain on-site to ensure speedy execution of restoration works. Regular progress updates on testing and restoration works are to be submitted to the National Dam Safety Authority. The meeting was attended by Irrigation Principal Secretary E. Sreedhar, Assistant Secretary K. Srinivas, ENC Ramesh Babu, Jayashankar Bhupalpally Collector Rohit Sharma, and representatives from RV Associates and IIT Hyderabad.
With the monsoon approaching, the pace of testing and restoration works at the Kaleshwaram barrages will be closely watched as a measure of the government's execution capacity on its flagship irrigation commitments.
Point of View
The project remains in the deliberation phase. Northern Telangana's irrigation deficit is decades old, and the Kaleshwaram barrage restoration — complicated by structural concerns — adds urgency that cannot be met by review meetings alone. Accountability will require fixed timelines, not just directives.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pranahita–Chevella Project?
The Pranahita–Chevella Project is a major irrigation scheme in Telangana that aims to divert water from Tummidihatti to Yellampalli across the Godavari River, providing irrigation to lakhs of acres in the erstwhile Adilabad district and surrounding northern Telangana regions. The Congress government revived it in 2024, reversing the BRS decision to merge it into the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme.
Why was the Pranahita–Chevella Project revived?
The Telangana Congress government revived the project to correct what it calls a 'historic mistake' by the previous BRS regime, which had merged the original scheme into the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. The revival was also a key promise in the Congress election manifesto.
What is the current status of the project proposals?
RV Associates and IIT Hyderabad have jointly submitted four alternative proposals for the project alignment. Each is being analysed for cost, feasibility, advantages, and constraints, with a final decision expected after a review meeting with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
What is the status of the Kaleshwaram barrage restoration?
Restoration works are underway for the Medigadda, Sundilla, and Annaram barrages under the Kaleshwaram project. Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has directed officials to complete all required Standard Penetration Tests and permeability tests before the monsoon, with progress updates to be submitted to the National Dam Safety Authority.
Who attended the special review meeting on 29 April?
The meeting was attended by Irrigation Principal Secretary E. Sreedhar, Assistant Secretary K. Srinivas, ENC Ramesh Babu, Jayashankar Bhupalpally Collector Rohit Sharma, and representatives from RV Associates and IIT Hyderabad.
