New link Canal facilitates utilisation of 50-60 TMC of floodwaters.
The People’s Government sanctioned Rs. 162.54 crore
Stabilisation of 1.38 lakh acres of ayacut under NSP and 40,000 acres upstream of Palair
CM Revanth Reddy laid the foundation stone for canal works
KHAMMAM, JANUARY 18, 2026: The people’s government resolved to stabilise lakhs of acres of ayacut by utilising floodwaters of the Munneru river. A canal has been designed to divert water from Munneru to Palair through gravity, enabling the cultivation of bountiful crops in Khammam and Suryapet districts.
Chief Minister Shri A. Revanth Reddy laid the foundation stone for the construction of the canal with a capacity of 4,500 cusecs of water supply at Edulapuram on Sunday. The government has already sanctioned Rs. 162.54 crore for the construction of this canal.
The Munneru River originated from
floodwaters of Pakala lake in Warangal district. The river flows through Khammam Rural and Chintakani mandals of Khammam district and joins the river Krishna at Munnaluru of NTR district in Andhra Pradesh. Teerthala in Khammam Rural mandal is the confluence point of Akeru and Bugga streams with the Munneru river. As a result, the Munneru river received a heavy flood during the monsoon season every year.
Sometimes, suburban areas of Khammam city are inundated by floods. Every year, approximately 50 to 60 TMC of water from the Munneru river flows into the Krishna river and from there goes waste into the sea.
The state government resolved to utilise flood water by constructing the Munneru – Palair link canal project and stabilising the ayacut under Nagarjuna Sagar and Palair upstream.
Water diversion from Mulkanoor Check Dam
Water will be diverted from the existing check dam on the Munneru River at Mulkanoor village in Garla mandal of Mahabubabad district and flow to the Palair Link Canal. The water level of the Munneru river is approximately 4 meters higher than the bed level of the Palair Link Canal. The Munneru-Palair Link Canal is an entirely gravity-based project on the 9. 600 km stretch.
The state government granted administrative approval for the canal works by issuing G.O. Rt. No. 98 on May 17, 2025, for an amount of Rs. 162.54 crore. The flow capacity of this canal is 4,500 cusecs.
Benefits of the Project :
The Munneru Palair Link Canal will stabilise 1.38 lakh acres of ayacut under the Nagarjuna Sagar Project, downstream of the Paleru reservoir in Khammam district. 40,000 acres of ayacut in the upstream of the Palair reservoir in Khammam and Suryapet districts will also be stabilised. Through the Palair reservoir, the Bhakta Ramadasu Lift Irrigation Scheme will provide additional water supply to 76,308 acres of ayacut under the SRSP Phase–II (Kharif). 4.70 TMC of water will be allocated for rural drinking water supply in Khammam, Mahabubabad, and Suryapet districts. Upon completion of this project, the government’s annual power supply expenditure for the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project will be reduced by approximately Rs. 120 crores. Additionally, the project will generate 2 megawatts of electricity at the hydel plant located downstream of the Palair reservoir.
