In a landmark development for the infrastructure of Telangana, the Chhattisgarh government gave initial approval for the Tupakulagudem Barrage (Sammakka Sagar Project) to be constructed over the River Godavari. This historical decision came after a meeting between Telangana Minister for Irrigation Uttam Kumar Reddy and Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai at Raipur. The Chhattisgarh CM acceded in principle for the issuance of the No Objection Certificate (NOC), thereby removing a major impediment for the project's completion.

Strategic Significance of the Project

The Sammakka Sagar Project is an irrigation project of great importance that is currently being built across the Godavari River in the district of Mulugu, Telangana. The project would enhance the supply of water for irrigation purposes and would yield a capacity of 6.7 TMC (thousand million cubic feet). The barrage would span a total of 1,242 meters long and would accommodate 59 spillway gates.

This irrigation project is part of the irrigation system of Telangana, as it provides water for:

251,310 ha of farm area from the J. Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme.

Additional 304,000 ha. during Phases I & II of the Sriram Sagar Project.

This irrigation capacity upgrade will assist significantly improve agricultural productivity as well as supply water security for up to thousands of regional farmers.

Addressing the Inter-State Issue

The main reason for the project delay was the fact that the backwater of the Sammakka Sagar Barrage would cover a small tract of land in Chhattisgarh. To allay this, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy assured the Chhattisgarh government compensation and rehabilitation for the families which would be affected. He reinforced this assurance during his meeting with CM Vishnu Deo Sai, who, in principle, signified his agreement for the granting of the NOC. The Telangana government had previously been in communication with the Chhattisgarh state on the issue of land acquisition and compensation for the submerged territory. Minister Reddy's private meeting was a last-ditch effort which obtained the all-important NOC, essentially eliminating the last big bottleneck against the project's construction. This settlement shows the value of inter-state collaboration for the development of the jointly owned water resources and represents a welcome development for regional growth.