Tender Notification for Palamuru Project.

The state government will issue tender notification on Friday for Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS). The tenders would be invited for an amount of Rs. 30,000 crore for the construction of five lifts and six reservoirs. The time limit for completing these works is 30 months.

Though the government estimated that PRLIS will cost around Rs. 35,000 crore, the tenders would be invited for works valued at Rs. 30,000 crore. This is due to the plans to construct two more reservoirs in addition to the initially proposed six reservoirs.

'Currently, the survey is going on the proposed two new reservoirs,' sources said. They also said that tenders were not invited for the branch canal works as there is a proposal to lay pipelines instead of digging of branch canals. The pipelines will not cause water loss. Irrigation minister T Harish Rao has already inspected piped agriculture water supply in Madhya Pradesh.

'Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao too will visit Madhya Pradesh after GHMC polls. Later, a decision will be taken on laying pipelines instead of open branch canals,' sources added. The tender document will be uploaded recently and after 15 days they will be opened. Later, the government will take a decision on awarding contracts, officials said.

The PRLIS is proposed to irrigate 10 lakh acres by utilising 90 tmc flood waters drawing for 60 days during flood season from Srisailam foreshore. Of the total 10 lakh ayacut, 7 lakh acres will be irrigated in Mahbubnagar district, 2.7 lakh acres in Rangareddy and 30,000 acres in Nalgonda district. Enroute, the government has also proposed to provide drinking water to all villages and also fill major reservoirs in Hyderabad.

Six Reservoirs

Narlapur 8.5 tmc
Edula 6.5 tmc
Vattem 16.5 tmc
Karivena 19.15 tmc
Uddandapur 17.00 tmc
Lakshmidevipalle 2.8 tmc
Survey on two more reservoirs
Anataram 15 tmc
Hemasamudram 8 tmc.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS