Hyderabad: On Saturday, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, responsible for State Irrigation and Civil Supplies, instructed officials to speed up the new Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Pranahita–Chevella project. The focus is on building a barrage at Tummidihatti to restart the project.
During a thorough review meeting at the Secretariat, the minister looked over field reports from officials who recently visited Tummidihatti and Sundilla. These areas are undergoing detailed technical surveys. Officials noted that the original canal alignment and hydraulic structures are mostly intact and can be reused with minor repairs. They reported that the canal network, stretching nearly 71 kilometers, is in usable condition, with two major aqueducts nearly 70% finished. Engineers confirmed that water could reach Sundilla entirely through gravity, eliminating the need for multiple lifting stages. “Up to Sundilla, there is no lift required. It is full gravity flow,” a senior official stated.
Initially, the Pranahita–Chevella plan was to draw water from Tummidihatti to Chevella via Yellampalli. After inspecting the field, officials found that many canal components from 0–71 km downstream of Tummidihatti are already in place. Of this stretch, about 45 km of canal excavation is complete, while work on the remaining parts is partially done.
Beyond the 71 km mark near Mylaram village in Mancherial district, officials discussed two options for moving water further downstream. The original plan involves transferring water from Mylaram to the Yellampalli reservoir, a 50 km stretch that requires one lift.
Alternatively, water could go straight from the same point to the Sundilla barrage, covering about 35 km, entirely through gravity.
Both plans involve a mix of tunnel and open canal sections. However, while the first option needs lifting, the second relies on gravity flow, making it technically simpler and more cost-effective.
