Telangana Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme management

Following criticism from BRS leader T. Harish Rao regarding the government’s failure to utilize the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) to combat drought-like conditions, the Telangana government has commenced water pumping operations. Harish Rao had argued that neglecting to lift Godavari River water despite heavy flood flows was causing water shortages in several districts and impacting industrial operations. BRS leaders K. T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao have since intensified these concerns, reporting significant crop damage in the Palamuru district due to inadequate irrigation despite water availability in the Krishna and Godavari rivers.

In response, pumping has begun to transfer water into the Ananthagiri and Ranganayaka Sagar reservoirs. At the Annapurna Pumphouse, two pumps are lifting approximately 6,400 cusecs of water, while two pumps at the Ranganayaka Sagar Pumphouse are lifting around 6,600 cusecs to replenish depleted levels.

Additionally, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that repair work on three damaged KLIS barrages at Medigadda, Annarm, and Sundilla is scheduled to begin in mid-November. These rehabilitation efforts, which include foundation strengthening and new cutoff walls, are intended to be completed before the 2027 monsoon. The repair designs are currently undergoing technical validation and are scheduled to be presented to the Central Water Commission technical oversight committee on October 5.