Pranahita remains Telangana’s untamed lifeline, waiting to be reclaimed

The river, with a vast catchment and steady flow, remains central to Telangana’s irrigation strategy via the Kaleshwaram project. Despite structural setbacks at Medigadda, the river’s promise to transform parched lands into thriving farmland keeps rural hopes alive

Hyderabad: Pranahita is more than just a river for Telangana. Born in Maharashtra’s verdant forests, with a vast 1,09,078 sq km catchment area, it continues to deliver a steady flow even when the Godavari dwindles, leaving its projects bone-dry.

Without its waters — as proven during the past three crop seasons — Telangana’s rural heartland risks turning to dust, triggering migration once again. The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), with its key component, the Medigadda barrage, was conceived from this pressing need. Unlike the earlier Pranahita-Chevella project at Tummidihatti, which could muster only 44 TMC, Medigadda’s confluence with the Godavari unlocks a significant potential of 282.3 TMC.

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It holds out hope to irrigate vast tracts in the State and pipe 30 TMC of drinking water to Hyderabad’s growing population. This ambitious project lifts water 618 metres uphill through a maze of canals, tunnels, and reservoirs, defying Telangana’s lofty terrain where gravity fails. It is a bold attempt to transform barren lands into lush fields, promising bountiful harvests of rice, cotton, and maize, and fueling rural prosperity. Yet, the dream has stumbled, with structural issues spotted in October 2023, magnified by political narratives aimed at undermining its significance.

As a result, a heartbreaking 2,742 TMC of water flowed downstream in 2024-25, nourishing Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram project while Telangana’s farmers watched their fields wither. The shift from Tummidihatti to Medigadda was no whimsical move. It was a calculated leap, engineered with precision. The Central Water Commission (CWC) had deemed Tummidihatti’s 44 TMC yield too meagre for Telangana’s grand vision. Medigadda, with its richer flow, powers a three-barrage system — Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla — designed to reverse-pump water across the State’s highlands.

This engineering marvel, featuring the world’s longest irrigation tunnels and colossal pumps, aimed to irrigate an area eight times larger than the 2.47 lakh acres possible at Tummidihatti.

Along its 113-km journey through Adilabad, Kumram Bheem, and Mancherial districts, the Pranahita breathes life into vibrant villages. It has seen wells brim, cattle graze contentedly, and communities thrive. As the Kaleshwaram project struggles to rise above its challenges, the Pranahita remains a symbol of resilience and a promise to rewrite Telangana’s story.