Neglect leaves Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme tunnels clogged

Leaking passages and poor maintenance could destabilise local hydrology and endanger fragile ecosystems, warn experts

Hyderabad: Nearly two years of neglect have pushed the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) into a precarious state, with clogged tunnels and submerged structures and equipment. Experts warn that leaking passages and poor maintenance could destabilise local hydrology and endanger fragile ecosystems. Without urgent intervention, this flagship project risks becoming another unfulfilled promise in Telangana’s troubled irrigation history.

Just two days ago, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka had assured that the Congress-led government would expedite PRLIS completion, stressing timely fund releases to fast-track progress. The aim is to transform the drought-hit lands of Mahabubnagar into fertile zones, turning Palamuru into the “rice bowl” of India. Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy too echoed this commitment, setting an ambitious deadline of December 2027, with critical works to be fast-tracked over the next six months.

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However, engineers, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern that PRLIS has lost the special focus it received under the previous BRS regime. They warned that continued neglect of maintenance could have catastrophic consequences. Cracks could form in concrete linings or unlined tunnel walls due to soil shifts, weathering or minor seismic tremors common in the region. Seepage from these fissures could weaken surrounding soil, risking subsidence or landslides.

Inside the tunnels, sediment, including silt, rocks and organic debris like roots, has begun to accumulate, clogging water flow. Stagnant water fosters bacterial growth and algae, while corrosion threatens steel components, weakening the entire structure. Prolonged lack of upkeep could drastically escalate revival costs.

PRLIS is a critical project designed to irrigate 12.3 lakh acres and supply drinking water to 1,226 villages across the six districts of Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, Vikarabad, Narayanpet, Rangareddy and Nalgonda.

The scheme’s tunnels, some several kilometres long and up to 10 metres in diametre, are meant to lift and transport massive volumes of water across five stages through rugged terrain. With Rs.31,000 crore already spent and 85 per cent of the work completed under the BRS government, the project held the promise of transforming parched farmlands. But since 2023, work has largely stalled. Pumping units have already been submerged once, and continued neglect threatens further structural damage.

Engineers fear PRLIS may go the way of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Launched in the 1950s, PAP faced decades of neglect and delay, and by the 1980s, unmaintained tunnels were clogged with debris, and seepage damaged the infrastructure, inflating costs. Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram project also saw tunnel and canal works stall due to funding issues and political uncertainty, resulting in sedimentation and structural decay.

The PRLIS now stands at a crossroads. The estimated cost has ballooned to Rs.65,506 crore, with Rs.33,201 crore still required. Despite assurances, experts worry that the project has been placed on the back burner by the Congress government.