The maximum demand for power for the operation of lift irrigation projects in the State, including supplementation of Kaleshwaram water to Sriramsagar project expected to begin during July-August this year, has been estimated at 3,234 mega watt (MW) in 2018-19.
A coordination committee meeting between the officials of Irrigation and Energy Department held here on Friday assessed that the new lift irrigation projects/components would have a peak demand of 2,206 MW and the existing projects/schemes would require a maximum of another 1,028.4 MW. Minister for Irrigation T. Harish Rao, who chaired the meeting, also asked the officials explore the possibilities of setting up solar power plants at all irrigation reservoirs.
TS-Transco CMD D. Prabhakar Rao, Engineer-in-Chief of Irrigation C. Muralidhar, Transco Director J. Surya Prakash, Advisor (Lift Irrigation) K. Penta Reddy and others attended the meeting.
The committee reviewed the requirement of power project-wise. According to officials, pumping stations which would be operational this year, expected period of their operation and month-wise requirement of power were discussed at the meeting. Irrigation officials explained that the components of Kaleshwaram project would require a maximum of 1,916 MW power. Mr. Prabhakar Rao told the meeting that all the pump houses which would become operational and would be provided with uninterrupted supply, while the construction of transmission lines and sub-stations was either completed or in progress.
The Irrigation Minister asked the officials to explore the possibilities of solar power generation on canals, as is being done in Gujarat, as also at reservoirs coming up with a storage capacity of 500 tmc ft as they would be spread in about three lakh acres. Further, he told the officials to study the possibility of establishing a hydro-electric generation station at Thupakulagudem barrage being constructed as part of Kanthanapally project.
