Palair old channel repair work nears completion

Pylon being readied for inauguration

July 29, 2017 12:57 am | Updated 01:00 am IST - KHAMMAM

Palair old channel modernisation Pylon under construction near Palair Reservoir in Khammam district.

Palair old channel modernisation Pylon under construction near Palair Reservoir in Khammam district.

Work on the 23.5-foot pylon of the Palair old channel is fast nearing completion at Palair in Kusumanchi mandal. The imposing pylon is being readied for inauguration to mark the modernisation of the 23.5-km Palair old channel of Nizam’s era.

The Palair old channel, which runs across the Kusumanchi and Nelakondapalli mandals, has been modernised at an estimated cost of ₹ 49.95 crore.

The old channel was constructed with Palair lake as its source during the Nizam’s rule in late 1920s.

The Palair Lake was converted into a balancing reservoir of 2.5 tmc ft, fed by the Nagarjunasagar Dam, in 1968, sources added.

It provided a major boost to the irrigation sector in Khammam division and elsewhere in the district. The drastic reduction in the discharge capacity of the Palair old channel from 320 cusecs to 220 cusecs due to accumulated silt and seepage losses over the years prompted the State Government to sanction funds for its modernisation.

The worn-out canal lining, defunct off-take points of the old channel had necessitated its major overhaul to realise its full irrigation potential of more than 20,000 acres, sources said.

Work on the modernisation of the channel began in February. Thanks to concerted efforts by the executing agencies concerned, the entire stretch of the old channel spanning little over 23 km had been modernised in a short span of four and a half months.

Cement concrete lining of the channel to an extent of 21 km has been completed, said B. Ramesh Reddy, Assistant Engineer, NSP, Tekulapalli Circle. As many as 11 new bridges had been constructed and nine old bridges repaired along the old channel. Side walls had been constructed on 2.5 km stretch.

Work on the pylon of the old channel has almost reached the final stage, he said, adding that it will be ready for inauguration in the next couple of days.

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