Pranhita River

Origin     : Thumbidihatti, Kouthala Mandal, Asifabad 

Intersection of Wardha and the Wainganga Rivers near the border of Maharashtra and Telangana.  

Elevation  : 146 m ( 479 ft)
Length     : 113 km (70 mi)
Catchment  : 1,09,078 km2
Outflow    : Godavari River near Kaleshwaram
States     : Maharashtra, Telangana

Telangana
Entire Pranahita River acts as border between Telangana and Maharashtra.

Districts : Komoram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Jayshankar Bhupalpally.

The Pranhita begins at the confluence of 2 extensive rivers - the

Wardha and the Wainganga. This junction lies on the border between the states of Maharashtra and Telangana near Kouthala(near Sirpur kagaznagar). Right at the onset, the river enjoys a wide river bed.

Pranhita is the largest tributary of Godavari River covering about 34% of its drainage basin conveying the combined waters of the Penganga River, Wardha River and Wainganga River. 

By virtue of its extensive network of tributaries, the river drains all of Vidharba region as well as the southern slopes of the Satpura Ranges. It flows along the border of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra and Adilabad district in Telangana. The Pranhita sub-basin is the 7th largest in India, measuring about 1,09,078 km2 making it larger than the individual basins of significant rivers like the Narmada and Cauvery.

The Pranhita begins at the confluence of 2 extensive rivers - the Wardha (catchment area: 46,237 km2) and the Wainganga (catchment area:49,677 km2).This junction lies on the border between the states of Maharashtra and Telangana near Kouthala(near Sirpur kagaznagar). Right at the onset, the river enjoys a wide river bed.

The river follows a short course of 113 km strictly adhering to the boundary between Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra and Adilabad district in Telangana.The direction of flow is southward unlike most rivers of the Deccan Plateau. Along its course the river is flanked by thick forests and harbors a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. After completing its short journey the river empties itself into the Godavari River at 170 feet in Kaleswaram.

The redesigned irrigation projects in Telangana are heavily banking on the inflows in two major tributaries – Pranahita and Indravati, which together have annual average flows of nearly 700 TMC ft water in Telangana territory – of the main river Godavari.

The terrain and thick forest cover in the adjoining areas of Maharashtra does not allow it feasible tapping of water from the two tributaries in its territory.
The Kaleshwaram irrigation project, one of the two components of the redesigned Pranahita-Chevella project, proposed across the Godavari after the tributaries – Pranahita and Indravati – join, is expected to be a blessing for the people of Telangana by utilising as much water as possible.

After undergoing more changes in its redesigning, the project seeks to create an irrigation potential of 18.2 lakh acres in addition to stabilising another 11.8 lakh acres of existing ayact. Besides, it also contemplates meeting 30 tmc ft drinking water needs of Hyderabad, another 10 tmc ft to villages en route and 16 tmc ft for industrial needs.

According to Irrigation Department officials, the Kaleshwaram project would have three barrages at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla and reservoirs at another 18 places. The three barrages would have a storage capacity of over 28 tmc ft together and the reservoirs would have another 157 tmc ft. However, the government was seriously considering reducing the capacity of Komaravelli Mallannasagar at Tadkapally from the proposed 50 tmc ft to about 20 tmc ft. The Kaleshwaram project requires 4,500 MW power for lifting water in different stages including, 113 meters till Yellampally reservoir. From Yellampally, it would be lifted to Mid Manair and from there to Anantagiri, Imambad and Mallannasagar reservoirs. From Mallannasagar, the water would flow through gravity to Upper Manair and reservoirs in Nizamabad and Adilabad districts. It has been proposed to divide the work into 28 packages in six links, including five packages for the first three barrages.