The KaleshwaramLift Irrigation Project is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhoopalpally, Telangana, India. Currently the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, its farthest upstream influence is at the confluence of the Pranhita and Godavari rivers. The Pranahita River is itself a confluence of various smaller tributaries including the Wardha, Painganga, and Wainganga rivers which combine to form the seventh-largestdrainage basin on the subcontinent, with an estimated annual discharge of more than or 280 TMC. It remains untapped as its course is principally through dense forests and other ecologically sensitive zones such as wildlife sanctuaries. The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is divided into 7 links and 28 packages spanning a distance of approximately through 13 districts and utilizing a canal network of more than. The project aims to produce a total of 240 TMC, of which 169 has been allocated for irrigation, 30 for Hyderabad municipal water, 16 for miscellaneous industrial uses and 10 for drinking water in nearby villages, with the remainder being estimated evaporation loss. The project aims at increasing total culturable command area by across all 13 districts in addition to stabilizing the existing CCA. On 21 June 2019, the project was opened by Telangana Governor E. S. L. Narasimhan and Chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao Four major pumping facilities manage the project's outflow, the largest at Ramadugu is also likely to be the largest in Asia once consistent measurements are available, requiring seven pumps designed and manufactured specifically for the project by the BHEL.
Project details
In addition to constructing new reservoirs, Kaleshwaram also rejuvenates existing ones.
1. Gravity Canal - 1,531 km 2. Gravity Tunnel - 203 km 3. Pressure Mains / Delivery Mains - 98 km Link-I: From Medigadda Barrage on Godavari River to Sripada Yellampalli Project Water will be reverse pumped from the confluence point of Godavari and Pranhita Rivers to Sripada Yellampalli Project with the help of 3 barrages and 3 lifts. As of June 2019, lifts are being commissioned with provision to lift 2 TMC of water per day from Medigadda. The water is lifted to backwaters of Annaram barrage. Again from Annaram barrage to Sundilla barrage. Finally from Sundilla to Sripada Yellampalli Project. Civil works are being executed to lift 3 TMC per day but pumps are being installed to lift only 2 TMC. If need be, only pumps would need to be installed to increase capacity by one more TMC. Link-II: From Sripada Yellampalli Project to Mid Manair Dam A new balancing reservoir is also being proposed in the outskirts of Hyderabad of 20–30 TMC to store water. The water will be supplied to this balancing reservoir in the same link. Link-V: From Anicut to Chityala From Anicut, a series of gravity canals and a small tunnel of 1.2 km are planned to transfer water to Gandamalla Reservoir and Baswapuram Reservoir. Thereafter, gravity canals are planned towards Chityal Mandal and its villages. Link-VI: From Sri Komaravelli Mallanna Sagar to Singur Dam From Sri Komaravelli Mallanna Sagar, another sequence of gravity canals, tunnels and lifts are used to transfer water to Singur Dam. Apart from that, if need be, water can be transferred to Nizam Sagar Project and from there, to SRSP. Link-VII: From SRSP Foreshore to Nizam Sagar Canals and to Dilwapur and Hangarga village for Nirmal and Mudhole Constituency From the foreshore waters of SRSP, water will be transferred to reservoirs at Hangarga and Dilwapur villages. Apart from this, existing reservoirs like Masani Tank and kondem Cheruvu will also be linked. Canals under Nizam Sagar will also be irrigated.
