Stone for Thumilla lift irrigation project laid

Gadwal: The foundation stone for the much-awaited Thumilla Lift Irrigation Project in Gadwal district was laid on Monday. Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, along with Health Minister Ch Laxma Reddy,  Panchayat Raj Minister Jupally Krishna Rao and MP Jitender Reddy laid the foundation stone.

Speaking on the occasion, the Irrigation Minister stated that with Thumilla project the government intended to provide water to 55,600 acres in the district besides addressing the water needs of villages in the project area. The scheme envisages to lift water from the foreshore of Sunkesula backwater on Thungabhadra River near Thumilla village in Waddepalli mandal of the district and pump into the RDS canal system.

Earlier, after careful examination of the proposal, government accord administrative approval for an amount of Rs 783 crore for the project, proposed to be completed in two phases. In phase-I, construction of pump house and its allied works and pressure pipe line of 9.6 km up to RDS for a gross cost of Rs 397 crores were planned.

In Phase II, formation of three reservoirs at Mallammakunta, Julakal & Vallur villages along with approach and feeder canals up to RDS canal with an amount of Rs 386 crore will be constructed. Later, Harish visited Teegalapally in Kodeir mandal in Nagarkurnool district and inspected the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Project works at Yedula reservoir.