Kaleshwaram project work to begin soon

• Govt approves design of 3 barrages
• Tenders will be called within ten days

Hyderabad: The much-awaited mega lift irrigation scheme - Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) work under Dr B R Ambedkar Pranahita- Chevella Sujala Sravanthi - is set to begin. The government has approved designs for three barrages of the project at the cost of nearly Rs 13,600 crore. Tenders will be called within ten days.

KLIP is the second major lift irrigation project after the Palamuru – Ranga Reddy Lift irrigation scheme taken up in Mahabubnagar district at a cost of nearly Rs 30,000 crore after the formation of Telangana. The projects being constructed across Pranahitha and Indravati, the tributaries of Godavari will utilise 350 tmc ft of assured waters bringing nearly 16 lakh acres under ayacut, according to an Irrigation Department official.

Under the KLIP, three barrages will be constructed at Medigadda with 26.77 tmc ft of live storage capacity, Annaram (2.27 tmc ft) and Sandilla barrage will have the capacity of 1.08 tmc ft. The cost of Medigadda project is estimated at Rs 6,525 crore and the Annaram and Sandilla will be Rs 3,576 crore and Rs 3694 crore respectively.

Since these projects come under inter- state category, Maharashtra government gave its consent in the recent meeting held between the two States, the official said. “Once these barrages are completed water will be lifted to Yellampally and Mid Manair dams from where water will be utilised for irrigation and drinking water purpose,” he said.

State Advisor (Irrigation) R Vidyasagar Rao said that the KLIP has been designed as part of re-engineering of Pranahitha– Chevella project for the optimal utilisation of Godavari water. At present, the only dependable water resource in Telangana is Godavari and its tributaries. Once these projects are completed, water can be stored and utilised during drought period.

The designs of Tummidihetti project under the Sujala Sravanthi will be finalised only after resolving the submerged areas in Telangana and Maharashtra. It was estimated that 13,074 hectares will be submerged in Telangana state and 1,227 hectares in Maharashtra. The location of the project was at the confluence point of Wardha and Wainganga rivers on the inter-State border between Adilabad and Maharashtra.

The TS government already accepted its counterpart’s insistence to reduce the height of the barrage to 148 feet as against 152 feet in the draft proposal to reduce the submergence area. A meeting has been arranged with Maharashtra government in Hyderabad to resolve the issue in 10 days time, sources said.