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{{Short description|Dam in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally, Telangana, India}}
{{multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=May 2020}}
{{overly detailed|date=May 2020}}
{{prose|date=May 2020}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project
| image = File:Lakshmi pumphouse aerial view.png
| image_caption = Lakshmi pumphouse of the project
| name_official =
| dam_crosses = [[Godavari River]]
| location = [[Kaleshwaram]], [[Jayashankar Bhupalpally district|Bhupalpally]], [[Telangana]], [[India]]
| dam_type =
| dam_length =
| dam_height = up to top of earth dam above the lowest river bed.
| dam_width_base =
| spillway_type = [[Open channel spillway|Chute spillway]]
| spillway_capacity =
| construction_began = 2010
| opening = 21 June 2019
| status = Completed/Inaugurated
| cost = ₹ 80,190 crores<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irrigation.telangana.gov.in/img/projectspdf/kaleshwaram.pdf |title= KALESHWARAM PROJECT |website= www.irrigation.telangana.gov.in/icad/projectsMajUp#|url-status=live |archive-date=2025-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708110319/https://www.irrigation.telangana.gov.in/img/projectspdf/kaleshwaram.pdf}}</ref>
| owner =
| operator = Telangana Irrigation Department
| res_name =
| res_capacity_total =
| res_capacity_active =
| res_capacity_inactive =
| res_catchment =
| res_surface =
| res_max_depth =
| plant_operator =
| plant_turbines =
| plant_capacity =
| plant_annual_gen =
| plant_commission =
| plant_decommission =
| purpose = Irrigation, power, and transport
| coordinates = {{coord|17|44|27|N|78|41|26|E|display=inline}}
| location_map = India#India Telangana
| extra =
}}
The '''Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project''' ('''KLIP''') is a multi-purpose [[irrigation]] project on the [[Godavari River]] in [[Kaleshwaram]], [[Jayashankar Bhupalpally district|Bhupalpally]], [[Telangana]], [[India]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/in-telangana-a-unique-irrigation-project/article19194414.ece|title=Why is Telangana's Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project important?|date=2017-07-01|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-04-20|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Currently the world's largest multi-stage [[lift irrigation]] project,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/worlds-largest-multi-stage-lift-irrigation-project-kaleshwaram-inaugurated-in-telangana/articleshow/69889027.cms|title=Kaleshwaram project: World's largest multi-stage lift irrigation project inaugurated in Telangana|access-date=2019-06-22|language=en-IN}}</ref> its farthest upstream influence is at the [[confluence]] of the [[Pranhita River|Pranahita]] and Godavari rivers. The Pranahita River is itself a confluence of various smaller [[Tributary|tributaries]] including the [[Wardha River|Wardha]], [[Painganga River|Painganga]], and [[Wainganga River|Wainganga]] rivers which combine to form the [[List of drainage basins by area|seventh-largest]] [[drainage basin]] on the subcontinent, with an estimated annual discharge of more than {{Convert|6427900|acre ft|hm3|abbr=none|lk=on|sigfig=3}} or 280 [[Tmcft|TMC]]. It remains untapped as its course is principally through dense forests and other ecologically sensitive zones such as [[Wildlife refuge|wildlife sanctuaries]].

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tspcb.cgg.gov.in/publichearings/Kaleshwaram%20Project%20by%20ICAD,%20GoTS%20-%20EXE%20SUM%20ENG.pdf |title=EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR THE PROPOSED KALESHWARAM PROJECT |website= tspcb.cgg.gov.in|access-date=2021-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tspcb.cgg.gov.in/publichearings/Kaleshwaram%20Project%20by%20ICAD,%20GoTS%20-%20EXE%20SUM%20ENG.pdf|title=Kaleshwaram Project Summary|website=Telangana State PCB}}</ref> is divided into 7 links and 28 packages spanning a distance of approximately {{Convert|500|km|abbr=on|lk=on}} through 13 districts and utilizing a canal network of more than {{Convert|1800|km|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irrigation.telangana.gov.in/img/projectspdf/kaleshwaram.pdf|title=Kaleshwaram Project|website=Telangana Government Irrigation}}</ref> The project aims to produce a total of 240 TMC (195 from [[Medigadda Barrage]], 20 from [[Sripada Yellampalli project]] and 25 from [[groundwater]]), of which 169 has been allocated for irrigation, 30 for Hyderabad [[Tap water|municipal water]], 16 for miscellaneous industrial uses and 10 for drinking water in nearby villages, with the remainder being estimated evaporation loss. The project aims at increasing total culturable command area (the sustainable area which can be irrigated after accounting for both upstream and downstream factors) by {{Convert|1825000|acre ft|hm3|abbr=on}} across all 13 districts in addition to stabilizing the existing CCA.

On 21 June 2019, the project was opened by [[Telangana]] Governor [[E. S. L. Narasimhan]] and Chief minister [[K. Chandrashekar Rao]]. National Green Tribunal declared the Scheme is constructed without following the statuary provisions with regard to environmental aspects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://greentribunal.gov.in/gen_pdf_test.php?filepath=L25ndF9kb2N1bWVudHMvbmd0L2Nhc2Vkb2MvanVkZ2VtZW50cy9ERUxISS8yMDIwLTEwLTIwLzE2MDMxNzAwMTkxNzc5MTM4Mjk2NWY4ZTZlZTM1MDI3Zi5wZGY= |title=Order of the NGT regarding Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme dated 20/10/2020|access-date= 20 October 2020}}</ref>

Four major pumping facilities manage the project's outflow, the largest at [[Ramadugu]] ([[Medaram]], [[Annaram Barrage|Annaram]] and [[Sundilla Barrage|Sundilla]] being the others) is also likely to be the largest in Asia once consistent measurements are available,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/kaleshwaram-the-making-of-an-engineering-marvel/article28088319.ece|title=Kaleshwaram — the making of an engineering marvel|date=2009-06-20|first=V. Rishi|last=Kumar|newspaper=The Hindu Business Line|access-date=2019-08-09}}</ref> requiring seven {{Convert|140|MWh|abbr=on|lk=on}} pumps designed and manufactured specifically for the project by the [[Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited|BHEL]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/bhel-commissions-1-more-unit-of-kaleshwaram-irrigation-project-in-telangana-4290431.html|title=BHEL commissions 1 more unit of Kaleshwaram irrigation project in Telangana|website=Moneycontrol|date=5 August 2019 |access-date=2019-08-13}}</ref>
The Engineering giant Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited built 15 of 22 Pump houses and undertook major part of the project.

== Project details==
{{Technical|date=September 2019}}
In addition to constructing new reservoirs, Kaleshwaram also rejuvenates existing ones.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kaleshwaram Project [ Full Details ] Telangana - 2019|url=https://www.kaleshwaramproject.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707094418/https://www.kaleshwaramproject.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=7 July 2018|access-date=2019-09-09|website=kaleshwaramproject.com/|language=en-US}}</ref> Mallanna Sagar reservoir was inaugurated in February 2022. It is one of the biggest artificial reservoirs in India, and was constructed with a capacity of 50 tmcft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/mallanna-sagar-a-jewel-in-kaleshwarams-crown/articleshow/89785255.cms|title=Telangana: Mallanna Sagar a jewel in Kaleshwaram's crown}}</ref>

=== Existing reservoirs ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Reservoir
!Location
!Capacity
(in [[Tmcft]])
|-
|[[Sripada Yellampalli project]]
|[[Ramagundam|Yellampalli village]]
|20.175
|-
|Lower Manair Dam
|
|24
|-
|[[Mid Manair Dam]]
|
|25.875
|-
|[[Upper Manair Dam]]
|
|2.20
|-
|[[Kaddam Project]]
|
|7.60
|-
|Masani Tank
|
|0.13
|-
|Total
|
|55.98
|}

=== New reservoirs ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Reservoir
!Location
!Capacity
(in [[Tmcft]])
!FRL(in [[Metre|m]])<br />
|-
|[[Medigadda Barrage]]
|
|16.17
|100.0
|-
|[[Annaram Barrage]]
|[[Annaram]]
|10.87
|120.0
|-
|[[Sundilla Barrage]]
|
|8.83
|130.0
|-
|Medaram Online storage
|[[Medaram]]
|0.78
|
|-
|Ananthagiri Online storage
|[[Ananthagiri, Ranga Reddy district|Ananthagiri]]
|3.50
|
|-
|Sri Ranganayaka Sagar
|[[Imambad (chandlapur)]]
|3.50
|
|-+419m
|Sri Komaravelli Mallanna Sagar
|Tadkapally
|50.00
|
|-
|Malkapet Online storage
|
|3.0
|
|-
|Konda Pochamma Online storage
|Pamulaparthy
|15.00
|
|-
|Amarlabanda Online storage
|
|5.00
|
|-
|Katchapur
|
|2.50
|
|-
|Thimmakka Palli
|
|3.00
|
|-
|Issaipet
|
|2.50
|
|-
|Bhoompally Online storage
|
|9.0
|
|-
|Gujjal Online storage
|
|1.50
|
|-
|Katewadi Online storage
|
|5.00
|
|-
|Mothe Online storage
|
|2.90
|
|-
|Kondem Cheruvu
|
|3.50
|
|-
|Gandamalla Online storage
|
|9.87
|
|-
|Baswapuram Online storage
|
|11.39
|
|-
| colspan="2" |TOTAL
|147.710
|
|-
|}

=== Links & Irrigated Command Area/Ayacut (Acres) ===

*'''Link-I:''' From Medigadda Barrage on Godavari River to Sripada Yellampalli Project (30,000 acres)
*'''Link-II:''' From Sripada Yellampalli Project to Mid Manair Dam
*'''Link-III:''' From Mid Manair Dam to Upper Manair Reservoir (86,150 acres)
*'''Link-IV:''' From upper Manair Dam to Konda Pochamma Reservoir (595,754 acres)
*'''Link-V:''' From Anicut to Chityala (243,500 acres)
*'''Link-VI:''' From Sri Komaravelli Mallanna Sagar to Singur Dam (280,296 acres)
*'''Link-VII:''' From SRSP Foreshore to [[Nizam Sagar]] Canals and to Dilawarpur and Hangarga village for Nirmal and Mudhole Constituency (590,000 acres)

Total: 1,65,700 acres (New ayacut) Apart from: 1,875,00+ acres (Stabilisation of existing ayacut){{Clarify|reason=|date=June 2019}}

=== Gravity Canals & Tunnels for distribution ===
1. Gravity Canal - 1,531 km

2. Gravity Tunnel - 203 km

3. Pressure Mains / Delivery Mains - 98 km

'''Link-I: From [[Medigadda Barrage]] on [[Godavari River]] to Sripada Yellampalli Project'''

Water will be reverse pumped from the confluence point of Godavari and Pranahita Rivers to Sripada Yellampalli Project with the help of 3 barrages (Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla) and 3 lifts.

As of June 2019, lifts are being commissioned with provision to lift 2 TMC (''56,63,36,93,184 liters''){{clarify|date=May 2019|reason=Number is not formatted correctly}} of water per day from Medigadda. The water is lifted to backwaters of Annaram barrage. Again from Annaram barrage to Sundilla barrage. Finally from Sundilla to Sripada Yellampalli Project. Civil works are being executed to lift 3 TMC per day but pumps are being installed to lift only 2 TMC. If need be, only pumps would need to be installed to increase capacity by one more TMC.

'''Link-II: From Sripada Yellampalli Project to Mid Manair Dam'''

A new balancing reservoir is also being proposed in the outskirts of Hyderabad of 20–30 TMC to store water. The water will be supplied to this balancing reservoir in the same link.

'''Link-V: From Anicut to Chityala'''

From Anicut, a series of gravity canals and a small tunnel of 1.2 km are planned to transfer water to Gandamalla Reservoir and Baswapuram Reservoir. Thereafter, gravity canals are planned towards Chityal Mandal and its villages.

'''Link-VI: From Sri Komaravelli Mallanna Sagar to Singur Dam'''

From Sri Komaravelli Mallanna Sagar, another sequence of gravity canals, tunnels and lifts are used to transfer water to Singur Dam. Apart from that, if need be, water can be transferred to [[Nizam Sagar]] Project and from there, to SRSP.

'''Link-VII: From SRSP Foreshore to [[Nizam Sagar]] Canals and to Dilwarpur and Hangarga village for Nirmal and Mudhole Constituency'''

From the foreshore waters of SRSP, water will be transferred to reservoirs at Hangarga and Dilwapur villages. Apart from this, existing reservoirs like Masani Tank and kondem Cheruvu will also be linked. Canals under [[Nizam Sagar]] will also be irrigated.

== Water lifting ==
The chief minister has said that every year about 400 TMC of water will be lifted.

== Project Economics ==
The project requires about 5,900 MW of electricity to run its several large water pumps. Assuming, on average, the pumps require constant running for two months during the monsoon period, 24 hours a day, the total electricity consumption would be 849 crore units. Taking a unit electricity charge of Rs. 8.0 per kWh, the annual electricity cost is going to be Rs. 7000 crores per year. Assuming the project irrigates about 15 lakh acres, the electricity cost for irrigation is about Rs. 46,666 per acre per year. The chief minister has said that the project requires about Rs. 5000 crore annually for electricity charges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgptGRU6Bp8| website=[[YouTube]] | title=CM KCR Serious Warning over Kaleshwaram Project Electricity Bill | NTV }}</ref> On the other hand, the state irrigation department had allocated Rs.7000 crores for electricity charges in its 2020 budget.<ref name="indiatimes_76821613">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/irrigation-dept-to-spend-50-of-its-budget-on-power-bill/articleshow/76821613.cms|website=[[The Times of India]] |title=Telangana: Irrigation dept to spend 50% of its budget on power bill | Hyderabad News - Times of India |date=7 July 2020 }}</ref>

The project was mainly funded with the money obtained through loans. Assuming an existing loan of Rs. 80,000 crore, at an interest rate of 6% that needs to paid up over a period of 30 years, the annual loan repayment charge is about Rs. 5760 crores per year. This implies an additional charge of Rs. 38,400 per acre per year towards the loan repayment. Therefore, the total cost of irrigation per acre is approximately Rs. 85,000 per acre per year. On the other hand, the net profit from the cultivation of the main crop i.e., paddy, could be expected to be around Rs.40,000 per acre per year,<ref name="indiatimes_76821613"/> assuming two crops in a year. These numbers raise questions about the financial viability of the project.

A recent report by the comptroller and auditor general of India (CAG) has pointed out that the cost to benefit ratio of the project is 1:0.75 in contrast to the state govt.'s claim of 1:1.5.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hmtvlive.com/telangana/cag-report-on-kaleshwaram-lift-scheme-99035 |title=CAG Report on Kaleshwaram |website=hmtvlive.com |access-date=2023-12-18}}</ref> In addition, by taking in to account the escalated costs for lifting the third TMC, the ratio comes down to 1:0.52. According to the report, the annual operational costs for irrigating an acre of land is Rs. 46,364 cr. The annual electricity costs are estimated to be Rs. 10,374 cr. Despite the negative report by CAG on the financial viability, the state govt. has made no effort refute the report.

== Project Execution ==
Indian Public sector Enterprise [[BHEL]] is executing this project and has already commissioned 16 pumping units.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bhel.com/sites/default/files/BHEL_Commissions_two_more_units_of_Kaleshwaram_Telangana.pdf |title=BHEL Commissions two more units of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme Package-6 (7x116 MW) in Telangana |website=bhel.com |access-date=2023-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bhel.com/sites/default/files/5dd236dc546ecBHEL_commissions_14_Pumping_Units_of_Kaleshwaram_Lift_Irrigation_Scheme_in_Telangana_in_a_record_period_of_six_months.pdf |title=BHEL commissions 14 Pumping Units of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme in Telangana in a record period of six months |website=bhel.com |access-date=2023-12-18}}</ref>

== Environmental law violations ==
In October 2020, the [[National Green Tribunal Act|National Green Tribunal]], India's court for environmental issues, directed the Telangana government to halt work on the KLIP except the drinking water supply component. A petition had been filed by a farmer from Siddipet district, whose land was affected by the KLIP. The National Green Tribunal found, on hearing his petition, that the environmental clearances for the KLIP had not been obtained before the project, as is required by law, but had been granted by the Union Government of India after work on the project had already begun by the Telangana government. The National Green Tribunal has directed the Indian government's [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change|Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change]] to constitute a committee to investigate the illegally granted clearances, and to file a report with them within six months.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-21|title=NGT red-flags Kaleshwaram project: Green clearance was in violation of law, halt work|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ngt-red-flags-kaleshwaram-project-green-clearance-was-in-violation-of-law-halt-work-6813921/|access-date=2020-10-21|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Pulipaka|first=Balu|date=2020-10-21|title=NGT says environmental clearance for Kaleshwaram violates law|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/211020/ngt-says-environmental-clearance-for-kaleshwaram-violates-law.html|access-date=2020-10-21|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Kaleshwaram irrigation project got environmental clearance 'ex post facto' in violation of law: NGT|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/kaleshwaram-irrigation-project-got-environmental-clearance-ex-post-facto-in-violation-of-law-ngt/articleshow/78764861.cms|access-date=2020-10-21}}</ref>

Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project Details '''[https://irrigation.telangana.gov.in/img/projectspdf/kaleshwaram.pdf PDF].'''

==See also==
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Lower Manair Dam]]
* [[Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme]]
* [[SRSP Flood Flow Canal]]
* [[R. Vidyasagar Rao Dindi Lift Irrigation Scheme]]
* [[Ganga Water Lift Project]]
* [[Pranahita Chevella]]
* [[Alisagar lift irrigation scheme]]
* [[Sri Komaram Bheem Project]]
* [[Devadula lift irrigation scheme]]
* [[Icchampally Project]]
* [[Colorado River Aqueduct]]
* [[Nizam Sagar]]
* [[Singur Dam]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Hydrography of Telangana}}
{{Godavari basin}}
{{Godavari River dams}}

(Telangana India)

[[Category:Dams on the Godavari River]]
[[Category:Dams in Telangana]]
[[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Telangana]]
[[Category:Inter-state disputes in India]]
[[Category:Irrigation projects]]
[[Category:Irrigation in India]]
[[Category:Godavari basin]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Telangana]]
[[Category:2019 establishments in Telangana]]

Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project - Revision history

Coin45bazzar at 04:03, 16 January 2026