Hyderabad, In a significant setback, Telangana’s ambitious Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), touted as the country’s largest lift irrigation endeavor on the Godavari River, is anticipated to remain non-operational for an extended period of six to seven months. The colossal task of restoring the damaged Medigadda barrage, a crucial component of the project, poses a considerable challenge, leaving the entire 19.63 lakh acres of the project’s command area without water for irrigation.
The Medigadda barrage, the initial structure in the three-tier Kaleshwaram lift scheme, suffered substantial damages in October, making it imperative for restoration before the subsequent barrages, Annaram and Sundilla, can function efficiently.
A senior engineer associated with the project stated, “There is no way Godavari water is pumped from the Kaleshwaram project to the command area for another two seasons. The entire project is in limbo until the Medigadda barrage is restored.”
The restoration process involves a thorough investigation, including a coffer dam construction to facilitate a meticulous inspection of the foundation. The damaged piers, gates, and slabs will need to be dismantled using diamond-cutting technology, and new structures erected in their place.
The entire project’s fate now hinges on the will of the government to prioritize restoration over accountability investigations. With a tentative estimate of ₹500 crores required for the restoration, questions arise about the government’s commitment to allocating such substantial funds.
The Kaleshwaram project, crucial for providing irrigation to the vast command area, faces an uncertain future, with a potential shutdown lasting up to a year or more.
