Chief Minister of Telangana K Chadrasekhar Rao has dedicated the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project to the nation.
During a function hosted at the project site last week, the Chief Minister along with Governor ESL Narasimha Rao, CM of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy & Maharashtra CM Devendra Phadnavis commissioned Phase I of the project.
The Rs. 80,500 crore multi-purpose project is planned to provide water to 45 lakh acres agriculture land that covers a stretch of around 1,832 km apart from fulfilling drinking water requirements in the state.
According to estimates, there is a possibility of overall cost escalation since the scope of the project has been further increased covering new areas. Telangana has made out a case for making it a national venture, so that it can get additional funds.
The project has 20 water lifts & 19 pump houses with water from the Godavari at Medigadda, 100 meters below sea level, would be lifted in 6 stages & supplied to Kondapochamma Sagar that is at a height of 618 metres above sea level. Large pumps of 139 mw capacity each have been set up to lift two TMC feet of water on daily basis.
The Medigadda pumping station underground, in a chain of total twenty pumping stations of this lift irrigation project, is amongst the biggest pumping stations set up in the project. MD, MEIL, PV Krishna Reddy told to the dignitaries about the unique features of the project.
The Medigadda pump house has been made in 18 months in such a way that every unit with a capacity of 40 MWs could lift 60 cusecs of water. It has been built 91 meters above the Godavari River with a total water lifting capacity of 660 cusecs. As part of the 1st phase, 11 units with a total capacity of 440 MWs will start functioning.
The Kaleshwaram Project has 82 pumping units with a capacity of 4627 MWs. Of this, MEIL is building 63 units with a capacity of 3767 MWs. The pumps & motors are being supplied by electromechanical companies including BHEL, Jailum & Andriz, entire civil works is being taken up by MEIL.
