Why in News?
Telangana Chief Minister announced a special drive to fast-track the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS), pledging to make it fully operational within 30 months. The announcement also commits extended fund support to benefit the erstwhile Mahbubnagar and other South Telangana districts.
About Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS)
PRLIS is a multi-stage lift irrigation project on the Krishna River in Telangana, designed to address severe drought conditions in South Telangana.
Objective
- Irrigate over 12.3 lakh acres of parched uplands
- Secure drinking water for 1,226 villages, Hyderabad city, and local industries
- Designed to lift 90 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of flood water over 60 days during the flood season
Working Mechanism — The 5-Stage Lift System
Water is pumped through 5 distinct stages up to the highest elevation at K.P. Laxmidevipally village, from where it flows by gravity.
- Stage 1 (Lift-1): Draws water from Srisailam into the Anjanagiri (Narlapur) Reservoir
- Stage 2 (Lift-2): Pumps water forward into the Veeranjaneya (Yedula) Reservoir
- Stage 3 (Lift-3): Conveys water to the Vattem Reservoir
- Stage 4 (Lift-4): Lifts water to the Karivena and Udandapur Reservoirs
- Stage 5 (Lift-5): Reaches the K.P. Laxmidevipally Reservoir — feeds gravity canals onwards
Interconnected Static Concepts for Prelims
Krishna River — Key Facts
- Origin: Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra (Western Ghats)
- Flows through: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
- Drains into: Bay of Bengal (near Hamasaladeevi, AP)
- Length: ~1,400 km (4th longest river in India)
- Major tributaries: Tungabhadra, Bhima, Musi, Ghatprabha, Malaprabha
- Major dams: Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, Srisailam Dam, Almatti Dam
- Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal: KWDT-I (1969) and KWDT-II (2004)
Srisailam Dam
- Location: Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh (on Krishna River)
- One of the largest hydroelectric projects in India
- Shared project between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
Lift Irrigation vs. Gravity Irrigation
- Lift Irrigation: Water is mechanically pumped uphill — used in hilly/upland areas
- Gravity Irrigation: Water flows naturally from a higher point via canals
Quick Revision Table
| Parameter | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Project Name | Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) |
| River | Krishna River |
| State | Telangana |
| Water Source | Srisailam Reservoir |
| Number of Lift Stages | 5 stages |
| Final Elevation Point | K.P. Laxmidevipally village |
| Flood Water Capacity | 90 TMC over 60 days |
| Area to be Irrigated | 12.3 lakh acres |
| Villages to get Drinking Water | 1,226 villages + Hyderabad city |
| Beneficiary Districts | Erstwhile Mahbubnagar (South Telangana) |
Trap / Confusing Points
| Common Confusion | Correct Fact |
|---|---|
| PRLIS draws water from Nagarjuna Sagar | ❌ Draws from Srisailam Reservoir |
| Krishna originates in Karnataka | ❌ Originates in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra |
| PRLIS uses gravity throughout | ❌ Uses mechanical lift for 5 stages; only final distribution is gravity-fed |
| PRLIS is in Andhra Pradesh | ❌ It is in Telangana (though on the shared Krishna River) |
| 90 TMC = 90 Thousand Million Litres | ❌ TMC = Thousand Million Cubic Feet |
Practice MCQs
1. The Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) draws water from which reservoir?
a. Nagarjuna Sagar
b. Srisailam
c. Tungabhadra
d. Almatti
Ans: B
PRLIS draws flood water from the Srisailam Reservoir on the Krishna River. Stage 1 lifts water from Srisailam into the Anjanagiri (Narlapur) Reservoir.
2. How many lift stages does the Palamuru-Rangareddy LIS consist of?
a. 3
b. 4
c. 5
d. 7
Ans: C
PRLIS has 5 distinct lift stages, pumping water progressively uphill to K.P. Laxmidevipally village, from where water flows by gravity.
3. The Krishna River originates from which location?
a. Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra
b. Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh
c. Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra
d. Kudremukh, Karnataka
Ans: C
The Krishna River originates at Mahabaleshwar in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. Trimbakeshwar is the origin of the Godavari; Amarkantak is for the Narmada.
4. PRLIS aims to lift how much flood water during the flood season?
a. 60 TMC in 90 days
b. 90 TMC in 60 days
c. 120 TMC in 45 days
d. 75 TMC in 75 days
Ans: B
PRLIS is designed to lift 90 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of flood water over a span of 60 days during the flood season.
5. Which of the following is NOT a major tributary of the Krishna River?
a. Tungabhadra
b. Bhima
c. Musi
d. Indravati
Ans: D
Indravati is a tributary of the Godavari River, not the Krishna. Major Krishna tributaries include Tungabhadra, Bhima, Musi, Ghatprabha, and Malaprabha.
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