Khammam: In a major boost to irrigation, flood control and regional development, the Telangana Government has launched the ambitious Munneru–Paleru Link Canal, a gravity-based project designed to divert surplus floodwaters and stabilise lakhs of acres of ayacut in Khammam and Suryapet districts.
Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri A. Revanth Reddy laid the foundation stone for the project on Sunday near Yedulapuram in Khammam district, marking a significant step towards utilising floodwaters that were otherwise flowing wastefully into the sea through the Krishna river system. The State Government has sanctioned ₹162.54 crore for the construction of the canal, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable irrigation and farmer welfare.
Turning Floods into Opportunity
Every year, the Munneru river — originating from floodwaters of Pakhal Lake in Warangal district — witnesses heavy flows during the monsoon season. As it passes through Khammam Rural and Chinthakani mandals before entering Andhra Pradesh and merging with the Krishna river near Munnaluru in NTR district, nearly 50–60 TMC of valuable floodwater goes unused, eventually draining into the Bay of Bengal.
Frequent floods in the Munneru also cause inundation in the outskirts of Khammam city, leading to losses for residents and farmers alike. Recognising this dual challenge of flooding and water scarcity, the People’s Government conceptualised the Munneru–Paleru Link Canal as a long-term solution.
Project Details
The project proposes diversion of water from the existing check dam on Munneru river at Mulkanur village in Garla mandal of Mahabubabad district into the Paleru basin. As the Munneru river level is nearly four metres higher than the Paleru link canal bed level, the entire canal has been designed as a gravity canal, ensuring zero power consumption for water transfer.
- Length of the canal: 9.6 km
- Carrying capacity: 4,500 cusecs
- Administrative sanction: G.O. Rt. No. 98 dated May 17, 2025
- Project cost: ₹162.54 crore
Wide-Ranging Benefits
Once completed, the Munneru–Paleru Link Canal is expected to deliver multiple benefits across Telangana:
- Stabilisation of 1.38 lakh acres of ayacut under the Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) command below Paleru Reservoir in Khammam district.
- Stabilisation of 40,000 acres of ayacut in the upper Paleru region across Khammam and Suryapet districts.
- Additional water availability for 76,308 acres under SRSP Stage-II (Kharif) through the Bhakta Ramadasu Lift Irrigation Scheme (DBM–60).
- Allocation of 4.70 TMC of water for rural drinking water supply in Khammam, Mahabubabad and Suryapet districts, strengthening water security.
- Annual savings of nearly ₹120 crore in electricity costs by reducing dependence on power-intensive lift irrigation under the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project.
- Generation of 2 MW of hydroelectric power from the hydel plant located downstream of Paleru Reservoir.
Vision for Balanced Regional Development
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy emphasised that the project reflects the government’s vision of balanced regional growth, efficient water management and farmer-centric governance. He stated that converting floodwaters into a productive resource would not only prevent recurring urban flooding but also ensure assured irrigation, drinking water security and energy savings.
The Munneru–Paleru Link Canal is being hailed as a landmark initiative that integrates flood control, irrigation expansion and sustainable resource utilisation — setting a new benchmark for water management projects in Telangana.