The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project Detailed Report is ready. Officials of Water and Power Consultancy Services, a mini-ratna PSU, submitted the DPR to irrigation minister T Harish Rao on Friday.

WAPCOS officials also submitted the related drawings to the minister. Harish Rao held a preliminary discussion on the DPR.

Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Scheme has been proposed by the state government as part of its re-engineering plans in place of the Pranahita-Chevella project planned earlier.

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Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project Detailed Report

Under Kaleswaram LIS, three barrages will come up at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla. Though WAPCOS, a central government organisation, prepared the DPR, the state government, not wanting to take chances, has decided to refer the DPR to the Central Designs Organisation (CDO) to examine the technical aspects.

In the preliminary review, Harish Rao noted that Rs 10,300 crore would be needed for the construction of three barrages, pump house and other constructions at the 2015-16 rates. The WAPCOS estimated that it would require Rs 8,900 crore for construction of the three barrages at 2007-08 rates.

However, the government is contemplating giving these new works as per the 2015-16 rates to the existing contractors who have been engaged in the Pranahita-Chevella project.

“No tenders will be invited for the works. The existing contractors will be awarded these works because the Pranahita-Chevella project is being re-engineered as Kaleswaram. The existing contracting agencies may enter into joint venture with any other agency,” sources in the irrigation department said.

However, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has to take a final call on this.

The Medigadda barrage will be constructed with a 100-metre full reservoir level (FRL) to store 16.17 tmcft of water. The Annaram barrage will be constructed with 120-metre FRL to store 3.52 tmcft and Sundilla barrage with 130-metre FRL to store 1.62 tmcft of water. Together the three barrages will store 21.29 tmcft of water, as per the DPR.

“We will have a meeting with the Chief Minister in a day or two and take a final decision on the DPR,” Harish Rao said. He wanted the officials of WAPCOS to give the details of submergence, if any, under the proposed three barrages.

Rao will meet his Maharashtra counterpart soon on the construction of Medigadda and Tummadi Hatti barrages. It may be recalled that with the stiff opposition from the Maharashtra government to construction of the Tummadi Hatti barrage as part of the Pranahita-Chevella project with a height of 152 metres, the state government has decided to go in for Kaleswaram barrages.

Now, the Tummadi Hatti barrage will be constructed with 148-metre FRL to which the Maharashtra government agreed.