Touted as ‘lifeline of Telangana’, Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project’s (KLIP) cost is likely to go up by about Rs 11,000 crore. With this, the cost of the project will touch a staggering Rs 92,000 crore from the existing Rs 80,196 crore which is almost equal to the state budget four years ago.
The cost has escalated as the government is planning to enhance the capacity of the project by constructing a tunnel to bring an additional 1 tmcft of water to Mallannasagar in Siddipet district from Mid Manair dam in Karimnagar district to fill the reservoir and other reservoirs and tanks en route. Senior officials said while 2 tmcft is being planned through pumps and tunnel from Yellampally reservoir to Mid Manair, 1 tmcft capacity is planned from Mid Manair to Mallannasagar.
