₹162.54 Cr Munneru-Palair Link project: Initiative will divert 50–60 TMC of surplus water

Khammam: Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Sunday said the Munneru-Palair Link Canal project will harness seasonal floodwaters and transform the agricultural landscape of Khammam, Suryapet, and Mahabubabad districts.

The Rs 162.54 crore initiative aims to divert 50–60 TMC of surplus water from the Munneru River—which previously flowed into the sea—directly into the Palair reservoir through a 9.6 km gravity-based canal.

Water Is a Livelihood Issue

Addressing a massive public gathering at Edulapuram, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy delivered a sharp critique of previous administrations while outlining his vision for a "Telangana Rising."

He emphasized that his government prioritizes completion over controversy. "For too long, the people of this region have seen their lands go dry while floodwaters from the Munneru caused destruction downstream. Our government is moving away from the culture of stalled projects and legal stand-offs," Chief Minister Revanth Reddy stated.

"This canal is not just about engineering; it is about restoring the rights of our farmers. We are focusing on solutions that deliver maximum results with minimum expenditure. My dream is for visitors to see Khammam and Palamuru not as backward regions, but as global role models in irrigation and education. We will continue to engage with the Centre and neighboring states with a 'give and take' policy to ensure our projects get the funding and clearances they deserve. We are here to fight poverty, not each other."

A Historic Shift from Power to Gravity

Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy provided the technical roadmap for the project, highlighting the massive economic savings and the shift toward sustainable resource management. "This is a historic moment for the region. By utilizing a natural elevation difference of four meters, we are creating a completely gravity-driven system that requires zero electricity for pumping," Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy explained.

"The previous BRS government’s decade-long neglect forced us into expensive, power-intensive lift schemes. By shifting to gravity flow for this link, we will save the state exchequer approximately Rs 120 crore annually in electricity costs for the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project alone. This is smart resource management. We have already activated three pump houses for the Sitarama project and revised its estimates to Rs 19,000 crore to ensure Godavari waters reach 6.8 lakh acres. This link canal is the final piece of the puzzle that turns the Munneru’s seasonal fury into a lifelong asset for our farmers."

Project Scope and Benefits

The Munneru-Palair Link Canal is engineered with a discharge capacity of 4,500 cusecs, enabling a wide range of benefits across three districts:

Irrigation Stabilization: The project will secure water for 1.38 lakh acres under the Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) left canal and 40,000 acres in the upstream areas of Suryapet.

Support for SRSP Phase-II: It will bolster the Bhakta Ramadasu Lift Irrigation Scheme, providing a reliable supply to over 76,000 acres seasonally.

Drinking Water Security: An allocation of 4.7 TMC annually will support Mission Bhagiratha, ensuring potable water for rural and semi-urban communities in Khammam, Mahabubabad, and Suryapet.

Clean Energy: The additional water flow will enable the generation of 2 MW of hydropower at the existing hydel plant downstream of the Palair reservoir.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, and others reiterated the government’s commitment to fast-tracking the construction works to meet the one-year deadline for the project.