Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project set to emerge as Hyderabad’s lifeline, aid Musi revival

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), often called an engineering marvel, remains central to Telangana’s long-term water strategy. Drawing from the 50 TMC Mallanna Sagar reservoir, the Rs. 7,360-crore project aims to supply drinking water to Hyderabad and rejuvenate the polluted Musi River.

Hyderabad: The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), hailed as an engineering marvel and the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation scheme, is poised to redefine Telangana’s water security and agricultural landscape.

Despite criticism from the Congress government, the project’s significance will be reaffirmed with the launch of Phases II and III of the Godavari Drinking Water Scheme by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday.

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Central to the KLIP is the Mallanna Sagar reservoir, with its impressive 50 TMC storage capacity. This ambitious infrastructure not only secures drinking water for Hyderabad but also plays a pivotal role in rejuvenating the Musi River, transcending political divides to address Telangana’s water needs.

Initiated under former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, KLIP harnesses floodwaters from the Godavari River at the confluence of the Pranahita and Godavari rivers in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally district.

Spanning 500 km across 13 districts with a 1,800-km canal network, the project designed to irrigate 45 lakh acres, also supports drinking water supply to Hyderabad and Secunderabad, while meeting industrial needs. Inaugurated in February 2022, the Mallanna Sagar reservoir, built at a cost of Rs.6,805 crore between Thoguta and Kondapak in Siddipet district, is India’s largest artificial reservoir. With a 50 TMC capacity, it serves as the base of Telangana’s water management.

It provides 30 TMC for irrigation in erstwhile Medak and surrounding districts, 16 TMC for industrial use, and 20 TMC for Hyderabad’s drinking water needs. Its strategic location ensures efficient distribution of Godavari waters across the State. On Monday, Revanth Reddy will lay the foundation for Phases II and III of the Godavari Drinking Water Scheme, a Rs 7,360-crore project under the Hybrid Annuity Model.

Drawing 20 TMC from Mallanna Sagar, the scheme allocates 17.5 TMC to meet Hyderabad’s drinking water demands and 2.5 TMC to replenish Osman Sagar, Himayat Sagar and seven smaller lakes as part of Musi River rejuvenation plan. Set for completion by December 2027, the project aims to provide piped water to every Hyderabad household, ensuring a sustainable water supply for the city’s growing population.

The Musi River, marred by pollution, is also set for a revival by drawing Godavari waters from Mallanna Sagar. The initiative will enhance the river’s ecological health while supporting urban development, with all these moves affirming the Kaleshwaram project’s significance for Telangana in multiple ways.