The 13 pumps of Link-1 of the kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), the largest lift irrigation project in the world, have begun to lift water. A day after the chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's high-level review on the unfavourable seasonal conditions existing in the State hurting the sowing for the Kharif (Vanakalam) season, the project authorities started pumping water for the season. He had requested that irrigation personnel make every effort to provide sufficient supplies for irrigation and drinking water.
The Pranahita River erupted at a time when nearly all river basins and sub-basins were dry due to insufficient rainfall in their catchment, bringing the first inflows of the year supporting the massive kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. The seventh-largest sub-basin in india is the Pranahita sub-basin. In its catchment, normal rainfall was recorded during the final week of June. Four days ago, Medigadda received about 6500 cusecs from the river, a Godavari tributary.
On July 3, the Pranahita inflows reached a peak of 27,000 cusecs before dropping to 18,000 cusecs on Tuesday. Prior to beginning pumping from the Medigadda (Lakshmi) Barrage, the initial flow helped to increase the storage levels there. The barrage's six pumps were put to action lifting 12,708 cusecs.

"The season has off to a good start for us. We won't need to worry any longer once the inflows begin to come from Pranahita. The Pranahita River is beautiful because once the initial flows of the year begin, it will never drop below 10,000 cusecs until the conclusion of the season. According to KLIS Engineer-in-Chief N Venkateswarlu, that is the lakshmi Barrage's primary and most reliable source of water.

Three barrages make up Link-1 of the KLIS: Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla. The Saraswati Barrage storage levels at Annaram will be built with the assistance of the water lifted from Medigadda. At the Annaram Barrage, four pumps are now producing 11,724 cubic seconds. At Sundilla Barrage (Parvathi Barrage), three pumps were turned on, each capable of releasing 7,830 cubic seconds.

Water is being piped into the Sripada yellampalli project from the three stages of KLIS Link-1, where it will be distributed to 37,000 acres of both new and old ayacut in 21 districts. Pumps were delivering water to Ranganayaka Sagar and the Mid Manair. Drinking water and irrigation supplies should come first. According to Venkateswarlu, "We are certain to provide water to the ayacut as normal rainfall is expected in July."

So far this year, there isn't much scope left from the Babli Project end. When the project's gates opened on July 31 as instructed by the supreme Court, it had less than half a TMC. He stated that as of today, there have been no inflows from the project. Similar to this, more water must be built up in the sriram Sagar project (SRSP) before it can be released to the ayacut. If the case calls for it, water from kaleshwaram will also be piped into the SRSP, he added.
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SIBY JEYYA

05/07/2023 07:33 AM