Telangana unveils lift irrigation project
The stage was set for the inauguration of Kaleshwaram - billed as the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project - across the Godavari river in Telangana.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao formally inaugurated the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) in the presence of his Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh counterparts.
Termed as the biggest achievement by India’s youngest state, the project has been designed to irrigate 4.5 million acres of land for two crops in a year besides meeting drinking water requirements of 70% of the state.
Officials say the INR 800 billion Kaleshwaram project is a major step towards the goal of “Bangaru Telangana” (golden Telangana) set by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi ( TRS) government, by bringing a 10 million-acre area under irrigation.
KCR, as Rao is popularly known, invited Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the inaugural as the state has extended full cooperation for the construction of the project. The two states in 2016 signed agreements to solve inter-state disputes, paving the way for the mega project. Inviting new Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was also significant, as both the Telugu-speaking states have resolved to amicably solve their disputes over sharing the waters of the Godavari and Krishna rivers.
KCR invited top officials of the banks which provided loans for the project. “We have not received even a single rupee from the Centre. The project is self-funded and also with loans raised from a consortium of 20 commercial banks,” he said.
The foundation stone for the project was laid in 2016. The state government claims it to be the world’s biggest such project completed in the shortest time. Under the project, claimed to be an engineering marvel, water from the Godavari will be lifted to the Medigadda barrage, located about 100 metre above sea level, from where the water will be further lifted, in six stages, and supplied to Kondapochamma Sagar, which is at a height of 618 metres. In other words, water from the Godavari will be lifted about half a kilometre, said an official note.
The project comprises 1,832 km water supply route, 1,531 km gravity canal, 203 km tunnel routes, 20 lifts, 19 pump houses and 19 reservoirs, with storage capacity of 141 TMCs. It requires nearly 4,992 MW of electricity to pump 2 TMC of water every day in the first phase. The requirement will go up to 7,152 MW for lifting 3 TMC from next year.
Leading infra company Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) has completed the electromechanical works for the project. The world’s biggest underground pump house is also ready to pump 2 TMCs of water per day.
“It’s a privilege and a lifetime opportunity that we are executing this engineering marvel, building the world’s biggest pumping scheme. We are engaging worldclass technology involving the best agencies and manpower and are racing with time without comprising on quality,” said B. Srinivas Reddy, Director, MEIL.