22-Jun-2019: Kaleshwaram multi-purpose irrigation project inaugurated

The first phase of Telangana’s Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project was inaugurated by Chief Minister of Telangana. It is touted to be one of the biggest irrigation and drinking water supply projects in the world. The project is built at a cost of Rs 80,000 crore which is expected to rise to Rs 1,00,000 crore on its completion.

The project will provide water for drinking and irrigation purpose to about 45 lakh acres in 20 of the 31 districts in Telangana, apart from Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Telangana will harness water at the confluence of two rivers with Godavari by constructing a barrage at Medigadda in Jayshankar Bhoopalpally district and reverse pump the water into the main Godavari river and divert it through lifts and pumps into a huge and complex system of reservoirs, water tunnels, pipelines and canals.

The project has set many records with the world’s longest water tunnels, aqua ducts, underground surge pools, and biggest pumps. By the time the water reaches Kondapochamma Sagar, the last reservoir in the system about 227 kms away in Gajwel district, the Godavari water would have been lifted to a height of 618 metres from its source at Medigadda.

The total length of Kaleshwaram project is approximately 1,832 kms, of which 1,531 kms is gravity canals and 203 kms comprise water tunnels. There are 20 water lifts and 19 pump houses in the project.

The massive project is divided into seven links and 28 packages and involved digging of 20 reservoirs in 13 districts with a total capacity to store 145 TMC.

The reservoirs are interconnected through a network of tunnels running about 330 kms, the longest underground tunnel is 21 kms long connecting Yellampalli reservoir with Medaram reservoir. While the intricate canal network covers approximately 1,832 kms, the farthest point is Narketpally in Nalgonda district which is 500 kms away from the source.

The project had to be built at such a size and scale because while the Godavari flows at 100 metres below Mean Sea Level, Telangana is located at 300 to 650 metres above MSL. Except for pumping water using gigantic pumps with mindboggling capacities, there is no other option.

The project is all set to create a world record in July when seven gigantic pumps with a capacity of 139 MW each in a pumping station built 330 metres below the surface will start lifting 2 TMC of water per day received from Medigadda Barrage on Godavari through a 14.09 kms long underground tunnel, the longest irrigation tunnel, in the world. The pumps would be operating at a cavern and surge pool which also holds a record for being the biggest in the world with a capacity to hold 2 crore litres of water.

On March 8, 2016, the Telangana government had entered into an agreement with the Maharashtra State government, putting an end to the decades-old differences and objections over the issue. This agreement has paved the way for the construction of Kaleshwaram project at Medigadda in Jayshankar Bhupalpalli district.

The state government has decided to start pumping water from the next month. It is estimated that for the lifting of 2 TMC water from Godavari to feed the Kaleshwaram Project, 4992.47 MW power is required. For lifting of the 3 TMC water, 7, 152 MW of power is required and arrangements are being for the supply of adequate power.

For the first time in the country’s history, the Telangana State Electricity organisations are using 139 MW pumps in the Kaleshwaram project at package-8 Ramadugu.

The world’s biggest underground pump house with 20 pumps each of 139 MW capacity has been built by Megha Engineering Infrastructure Limited which has also has constructed all the major pump houses and related infrastructure for power transmission for this mega project.

About 141 to 180 TMC would be harnessed during the 90 flood days of Godavari from August to October. Once the project reaches its full operational capacity, it is expected to make Telangana an economic power because farmers will be able to sow two crops, and thousands of crores worth of fishing industry would flourish in the fresh water in this project alongside tourism and water sports.

24-Feb-2018: Supreme Court gives way for Kaleshwaram project in Telangana

In a major relief to the Telangana government, the Supreme Court refused to intervene in an order granted by the Hyderabad High Court suspending the order of the National Green Tribunal staying the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. The NGT bench at Chennai had on October 5, 2017 directed the Telangana government to stay the construction of the project.

Hayath Uddin, a resident of Medak district, claimed the project did not have clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. Aggrieved by the order, the state government moved the Hyderabad High Court, contending that the Principal Bench of the NGT passed the order in the absence of the expert member on the bench.

Chief Minister has directed the minister and  officials to speed up the Kaleshwaram work to ensure that deadlines are met. The latest SC ruling will pave the way for completion of the Kaleshwaram irrigation project in time, the lifeline of Telangana.

23-Dec-2017: Kaleshwaram project gets environmental clearance

The Kaleshwaram project has got an environmental clearance from the Centre. With this, the project, which has got all the clearances, is estimated to cost about Rs 80,499.7 crore and proposed to be completed in three years.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change gave the environmental clearance with certain specific conditions. It said that the allocated grant of Rs 362.04 crore for the Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) Plan should be fully utilized and not be diverted for any other purpose. As per the plan, the area of CAT is 32.83 Sq.km.

The Centre directed Telangana to settle all rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) issues before commissioning of the project. Construction work to be carried-out after following the due procedure of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013 as applicable to the state of Telangana (21/2017) as amended by Act. Adequate publicity of the compensation package should be circulated in the affected villages. All R&R issues shall be completed before commissioning of the project.

It further directed to constitute a monitoring committee for R&R, comprising of representatives of project affected persons including a representative from SC/ST category and a woman beneficiary.

The environment clearance also comes with directions for greenbelt development. Plans for greenbelt development and reservoir rim treatment have to be made in consultation with State Forest Department. Preference shall also be given to plant local indigenous species. Conjunctive use of surface water shall be planned to check waterlogging as well as to increase productivity.

The project envisages construction of a barrage across River Godavari in near Medigadda village in Karimnagar District of Telangana for diversion of 180 TMC of water for providing irrigation facility in 7,38,851 ha covering 7 Districts namely Adilabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Medak, Nalgonda and Rangareddy Districts. It is also proposed to stabilize the existing command area of 7,62,028 ha of area. The project is also proposed to provide drinking water facility for Hyderabad and Secunderabad cities. The total land requirement is about 37,852 hectares (ha). Out of which, 3168.1315 ha is forest land and 34,684 ha is private land.