Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Telangana government had sanctioned ₹162.57 crore for the construction of the Munneru-Paleru link canal to boost irrigation and reduce flood damage in Khammam, Suryapet and Mahabubabad districts.
The minister said the proposed Munneru-Paleru link canal would stretch 9.6 kilometres. It would be designed to carry a peak discharge of 4,500 cusecs. He added that the project aimed to harness natural flood flows and divert excess water for irrigation and drinking purposes.
According to Uttam Kumar Reddy, the Munneru stream releases nearly 50 TMC of floodwater every year. He said the canal would divert this water for productive use. The diverted water would also support drinking water supply under Mission Bhagiratha.
The minister said the project would help address recurring flood damage in the region. At the same time, it would strengthen water security for farmers across the three districts.
Munneru-Paleru link canal to stabilise irrigation across three districts
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Munneru-Paleru link canal would stabilise irrigation for 1.38 lakh acres once completed. He added that it would also ensure water availability for 40 acres of NSP ayacut located upstream of the Paleru reservoir.
He said water from a check dam at Mulkanoor village in Garla mandal of Mahabubabad district would be diverted through the canal. This, he said, would strengthen the Sriramsagar Project Stage-2. It would also improve supply under the Bhakta Ramadasu Lift Irrigation Scheme.
The minister said the project would provide additional irrigation to 70,308 acres under DBM-60. In addition, it would ensure continuous water supply to 46,712 acres in Suryapet district through the Mothey Lift Irrigation Scheme via DBM-71.
He added that the project would reduce the operational burden on the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project. Lower power consumption costs, he said, would benefit the state. He also noted that surplus water from the Paleru reservoir would enable generation of 2 MW of hydroelectric power at the downstream hydel plant.
