KALESHWARAM PROJECT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Eco – Infra/Agri.)

Context: The technical experts committee recently declared the Medigadda barrage of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project on the Godavari river in Telangana "completely useless" in its current state and recommended full rehabilitation for it to be functional.

Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project

• About: It is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally District, Telangana, India. 
• 3 Main Purposes: Irrigation, Transport, and Power.
• The project starts at the confluence point of Pranahita River and Godavari River.
• Serving Agricultural Needs: The project is primarily designed to facilitate irrigation and drinking water requirements for approximately 45 lakh acres of land across 20 of Telangana's 31 districts.

Significance of Project

• The Kaleshwaram project will revolutionize Telangana's agricultural potential, offering year-round water supply that allows farmers to cultivate multiple crops.
• This mission draws a large quantity of water from the KLIS and some quantity from projects on River Krishna.

Godavari River

• Also Known as: Dakshin Ganga
• Source: Godavari river rises from Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows for a length of about 1465 km before outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries: Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati, Maner and the Sabri.