Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project

Context

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is being checked because some parts of it are sinking. The National Dam Safety Authority will check everything to make sure it is safe.

About Kaleshwaram Project

• In Kaleshwaram village in India, there is a big project that used to be called the Pranahita-Chevella Lift Irrigation Project. 
• It is where the Pranhita and Godavari Rivers meet. 
• This project is said to be the biggest in the world, with many pumping stations to send water to farms in Telangana. 
• It started in 2016 and uses a lot of water from the Godavari River. 
• There are different parts to the project in different districts, and the goal is to get a lot of water to help the farmers. 
• They are building a big dam at Medigadda to send water back into the river. Some of the main pumping stations are at Ramadugu, Medaram, Annaram, and Sundilla.

Key Features

• The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is special because it does something different from other projects. 
• Two rivers meet, giving the project an opportunity to capture water and some special machines.
• Finally, the water to one-point distribution centre drills out from a massive and complex system that includes reservoirs, tunnels, pipes and canals.

Sections of the Project

• Different regions within the project, with each section linked by network after work, will have a collection capacity of 240 TMC.
• Water is redistributed along various canals and pipes when Medigadda Dam reaches overflow. Some of the water proceeds directly downstream into Dummugudem Reservoir; Sudda Vagu Stream flows on both banks in this region.
• The water is then taken by the master pump station and sent straight to Suryapet through a pipe without any need for further remanaging. Ramadugu is the biggest of the four pumping stations.

Benefits of the Project

• In addition, it will replenish subsurface water supplies thanks to water from canals.
• The project will also provide support for efforts to conserve water and to mediate disputes between states concerning the sharing of river waters.
• Overall, this will help farmers and make it easier to grow crops, which will improve the economy and improve the lives of people in the area.

National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)

• NDSA operates like a special inspection police force. It ensures that the country’s huge dams are safe.
• They also see to it that dams must obey all rules so as to keep people and the environment healthy.
• The law also stipulates that all large dams in India are subject to regular inspection and there are consequences across the spectrum for non-compliance.
• The Dam Safety Act also set up NDSA, which is in charge of making rules regulating dams, implementing disaster prevention and relief, as well as arbitration between states on matters related to their construction.
• NDSA is made up of a chairman and one member each who know a lot about rules, technology, resources, security and engineering.

Source: The Hindu

UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Q.Give a brief discussion on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, including its significance and benefits.

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