The ambitious Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) is progressing at a brisk pace so that water from river Godavari can be lifted to the Sripada Yellampalli project by this monsoon.
Work has picked up pace at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrage and the Kannepalli pump house for lifting of water. Already 80% of the concrete work were completed at all those sites, and the installation of flood gates, electric sub-stations, etc. are underway with workers toiling round-the-clock.
Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao, who had taken up the project completion as a prestige issue, has been conducting surprise inspections, sometimes at night. He visited the project sites at Medigadda barrage in Jayashankar-Bhupalapalli district and Sundilla barrage in Peddapalli district on Saturday night, and even camped at Sundilla.
The Minister instructed the executing agencies to complete the concrete works within the next two months. Against 5.81 crore cubic metres of concrete works under KLIP link-1, the authorities have so far completed 4.50 crore cubic metres.
The installation of flood gates has started at Annaram barrage. A total of 86 flood gates would be installed at Medigadda barrage, 66 at Annaram barrage and 74 at Sundilla barrage.
On the other hand, electricity works were also progressing at a brisk pace at all the sites. The Minister instructed the officials to expedite the works before the onset of rainy season by deploying additional staff and machinery.