Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao fulfilled the long-awaited dream of the people in the water-thirsty Palamuru region by switching on the first pump of the Narlapur pump-house of the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) near Yellur in Nagarkurnool district on Saturday.
The pump set started operating by lifting water in a wet run. More than 3,200 cusecs of water was drawn from the offshore point of the Srisailam project and pumped into the Anjanagiri reservoir through the tunnel system and surge pool. This is part of the Stage-1 of the Rs 35,000 crore project.
There was a large crowd gathered at the project site to celebrate this milestone. They chanted slogans in praise of the Chief Minister for his commitment to the cause of Palamuru, which had previously experienced a mass exodus of people in search of water and livelihood.
The project, built in five stages with six reservoirs, aims to provide 7.15 tmc of water to support drinking water supply in over 1,220 villages spread across six districts in the first phase. It also has provisions for meeting irrigation needs with 73 tmc of water in the second phase, pending clearances.
The Chief Minister arrived at Narlapur earlier in the day and performed a special puja at the venue. He unveiled a pylon commemorating this historic moment. Several cabinet colleagues and elected representatives, including gram panchayat sarpanches from the beneficiary villages, welcomed him warmly.
During his visit, the project officials briefed him about the progress of works on the pump houses and surge pools in the remaining four stages of the project. The Chief Minister also planted a sapling at the venue, symbolizing a green revolution for Palamuru.
