Water can be lifted from Pranahita river and solve at least drinking water problem in Telangana state
Officials say they can lift one tmcs of water in two days by spending Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore only for construction of Gabion bund
KARIMNAGAR, MARCH 21, 2024: In the wake of prevailing drought-like situation and acute shortage of water for irrigation and drinking water needs, the experts suggest construction of a Gabion structure on a war-footing between Chinna Kaleshwaram project and Kannepalli pump house in Mahadevpur mandal to lift the Pranahita river water to the Sripada Yellampalli project in Ramagundam and mitigate the water crisis in the Telangana state.
As there is no chance of lifting water from the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, one of the costliest irrigation project, as three its piers have sank at Medigadda forcing the irrigation authorities to empty the project. Similarly, the irrigation authorities also emptied the Annaram project following its leakages.
On the other hand, there are no inflows from the Godavari river into the SRSP MM, LMD, and Sripada Yellampalli and other projects. Already the farmers are worried lot over withering of crops due to non-availability of water sources. But, the water was still flowing from the river Pranahita in Mahadevpur mandal. The irrigation officials said that it was right time to construct a gabion structure to store water and lift from Kannepalli pump house to Yellampalli project to solve at least drinking water problem in Hyderabad city.
A gabion structure is a woven or welded wire mesh basket filled with rocks that is used to help control erosion and stabilize slopes. Gabions are often used along river channels. The mass of the rock fragments in the gabion acts as a gravity retaining wall. Gabions are also used in civil engineering, road building, military applications, and landscaping.
The experts say that when the KLIP was functional there was abundant water throughout the state even during the peak summer season as the irrigation officials could lift water from the Medigadda to Annaram to Sundilla and Sripada Yellampalli and to Mid Manair Dam, LMD, Mallannasagar, Ranganayaka Sagar, Konda Pochamma, Malkapet and other reservoirs.
Now that the state is reeling under acute water shortage due to various reasons including no inflows into the projects and deficit rainfall, it is time for the government to construct Gabion bund across the river Pranahita at Chinna Kaleshwaram and Kannepalli pump and lift water. They said that the construction of Gabion bund would help to at least lift one TMC of water in two days.
The gabion construction would cost anywhere between Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore and could be completed within one month on a war-footing to store water and later lift to Yellampalli and other projects, they said and added that the drinking water problem could be solved in the Telangana state as the summer season is likely to most hottest during this season.
