Hyderabad: Officials of the irrigation department estimate that the cost of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project will cross Rs 1 lakh crore if the decision of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to lift 3 tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water in addition to the pumping of 2 tmc ft, keeping in view of the future drinking and irrigation water requirements is implemented.
Mr Rao at a recent meeting instructed officials to conduct a survey on the cost of pumping of 1 tmc ft of water through the pipeline in addition to the pumping water through gravity through barrages, pump houses and tunnels. Officials said that with the addition of 1 tmc ft, the project cost would cross Rs 1 lakh crore.
Mr Rao wanted the water pumped from Kaleshwaram to rejuvenate the Sriramsagar reservoir and to supply water to 18 lakh acres original area under the SRSP reservoir.
An irrigation officer said additional pumps would be required at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla to implement the proposal.
Acquisition needed for new Pipeline
Officials of the irrigation department estimate that the cost of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project will cross Rs 1 lakh crore if the decision of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to lift 3 tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water in addition to the pumping of 2 tmc ft.
Irrigation department official said land acquisition was required to lay the pipeline to connecting the pump houses from the Kaleshwaram to SRSP to pump water to the destination.
An official said the Kaleshwaram project costing Rs 80,500 crore was designed to pump 2 tmc ft water in a day. With the addition of 1 tmc ft, the project cost would cross Rs 1 lakh crore.
