Munneru-Palair Link to stabilise NSP ayacut, save people from flood fury: Uttam Kumar Reddy

In a move to harness untapped natural resources and mitigate flood risks, the State government has taken up implementation of the Munneru-Palair Link Scheme, a gravity-based irrigation canal/project, to utilise about 50 tmc ft of water every year to stabilise the existing ayacut under Nagarajunasagar, Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will lay the foundation stone for the work near Nayakangudem in Khammam district on Sunday. Three districts — Khammam, Suryapet and Mahabubabad — would benefit from the link (gravity) canal running for a length of 9.6 km. The work is being taken up with an estimated cost of ₹162.54 crore.

The link canal between an existing checkdam across Munneru at Mulkanoor village of Garla mandal in Mahabubabad district and Palair reservoir seeks to utilise about 50 tmc ft of flood water causing severe impact on the low-lying areas along its (Munneru) course. The Minister stated that as the river flows at about 4 metres above the bed level of the link canal, there would be ne need for any pumping.

He explained that the link canal would benefit in stabilisation of 1.38 lakh acres of ayacut under Nagarjunasagar Left Canal in the downstream of Palair reservoir in Khammam district and another 40,000 acres in the upstream of Palair in Suryapet district.

It would also supplement water to 76,300 acres ayacut of SRSP Stage-II for Kharif ID (irrigated-dry) under DBM 60 and another 46,700 acres under DBM 71 in Suryapet district. Further, it would also meet 4.7 tmc ft water for drinking needs for Mission Bhagiratha in the three districts and supplement water for power generation at the existing 2 megawatt hydel plant in the downstream of Palair reservoir.

The link canal is being designed with a discharge capacity of 4,500 cusecs, which is equivalent to one tmc ft water for every two-and-a-half days flow. Another economic benefit from the link canal would be the projected annual savings of ₹120 crore in electricity charges in the Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Scheme, which others would provide water for stabilisation of the ayacut.