A Renewed Push for Telangana's Lifeline
Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has declared a firm commitment to making the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) fully operational within the next 30 months. This announcement signals a significant acceleration in efforts to bring water security to extensive agricultural lands across the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district and beyond, promising irrigation for an estimated 12.3 lakh acres. A special drive is reportedly being launched to fast-track works, with specific allocations for related projects: ₹909 crore for Kalwakurthy, ₹252 crore for Nettempadu, ₹200 crore for Bhima, and ₹185 crore for Koilsagar, earmarked for the coming year.
The project, designed to lift 90 TMCft of Krishna River floodwater, now faces revised cost estimates soaring up to ₹80,000 crore, a stark increase from earlier projections and the approximately ₹27,000 crore spent by the previous BRS administration.
Past Spending and Future Allocations
Previous expenditures on the Palamuru-Rangareddy project, according to the minister, include ₹6,718 crore for implementation, ₹284.71 crore for land acquisition, ₹63.65 crore for rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R), and ₹94 crore for other related heads. The minister also directed officials to undertake the desilting of the Jurala project to restore its original storage capacity of 11.94 TMC. Efforts are underway to expedite land acquisition and R&R activities to facilitate this mission-mode implementation.
Political Crossfire and Project History
Minister Reddy has been vocal in his criticism of the previous BRS government, accusing them of "false propaganda" and neglecting crucial irrigation infrastructure for over a decade. He pointed to the disparity in spending, suggesting the BRS prioritized the Kaleshwaram project with over ₹1 lakh crore while allocating significantly less to the Palamuru-Rangareddy scheme. The delay is also attributed to the alleged failure of the prior administration to submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for over seven years. The previous government, he claims, spent around ₹27,000 crore without providing any irrigated land. The BRS's alleged neglect extended to other schemes like Koilsagar, Nettempadu, Bheema, and Dindi Lift Irrigation Schemes.
Technical Scope and Water Utilization
The Palamuru-Rangareddy scheme is engineered to lift water from the Srisailam reservoir foreshore to the KP Laxmidevipally reservoir through a five-stage pumping system, aiming for an elevation of 670 meters. The system is designed to lift 90 TMCft of Krishna River floodwater over 60 days during the monsoon season. The associated reservoir has a storage capacity of 6.5 TMCft. Phase I of the project is intended to supply drinking water to 1,226 villages and stabilize existing irrigation, while Phase II aims to expand irrigation coverage and enhance drinking and industrial water supply. The current administration asserts its firm resolve to ensure full utilization of the state's water entitlements without any loss.
Background: A Project's Extended Genesis
The Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme has been a protracted endeavor, aiming to transform arid regions of Telangana. Its original vision encompassed irrigating vast tracts across Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda districts. However, a combination of bureaucratic hurdles, funding challenges, and, according to the current government, political neglect, have contributed to its delayed implementation and escalating costs. The project's scope involves significant infrastructural development, including the construction of canals and pumping stations, intended to address critical water scarcity issues in the region. The transition in governance has brought a renewed impetus, with a clear deadline set for its operationalization.