Handri Neeva becomes Asia's biggest lift irrigation project

There are many lift irrigation projects in the world, but, the Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) project has unique features among all. This lift irrigation project is having the highest number of pump houses and motors in the world. 43 pump houses built in the first and second phases of the project. By establishing a total of 269 units (motor and pump is one unit) MEIL has created a world-class project.

HNSS is Asia's biggest and longest lift irrigation project. Though Kaleshwaram, Devadula, Kalwakurthy, Palamuru-Rangareddy projects are bigger projects, as they are still under execution level HNSS has recognised as Asia's biggest lift irrigation project. The California state in the USA is having the world's biggest project was built 80 years ago. This project lifts water to the highest level of terrains for drinking and irrigation purposes. Once the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project completes all these records will be erased out. As per the number of motors, pumps, pump houses and length, HNSS is the Unique among all. MEIL's electro-mechanical works had brought this uniqueness to the project.

Handri-Neeva project was proposed 30 years ago with the ambition to supply drinking and irrigation water to the four Rayalaseema districts. While the river Handri flows in Kurnool district and Neeva flows in Chittoor district. Interlinking these two rivers by digging hills and high terrains by setting up a pump house at Malyala in Kurnool district. When This project was taken up in 2006, there are many questions and critics arisen about the availability of water and financial resources. This project was started by former Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy but it is now being claimed by Chandrababu. Many pessimists raised questions regarding establishing and maintenance of pumps and motors. When companies like IDC and RIC are unable to maintain the smaller lift irrigation projects, people expressed doubts about HNSS Project viability.

MEIL successfully executed the first phase of HNSS and maintaining and pumping the water for the last eight years without any issues or hindrances. MEIL proved that, whether it is Colorado or Rayalaseema, the lift irrigation projects can be implemented successfully. In the first phase of the project, 12 pump houses with 129 units (motors and pumps) are successfully running for the last 8 years.

As part of the second phase, water pumping is going on in 565-kilometre length main canal through Madakashira and Punganoor branch canal. This main canal spread across Ananthapur, Kadapa, Chittoor districts. The water pumping into the main canal began in this season. 140 units in 31 pumping stations are ready to operate. As per the limitations of first year of operation currently operating only 43 units. With these units, As of now, 160 tmc of water lifted from Malayala in Kurnool district to the endpoint in Chittoor district. This water lifted with the help of 43 pump houses. As two phases of the project are working now, it has become one of the world's biggest and longest unique project. Even in the USA and China lift irrigation projects does not have this number of pump houses. Even the world's recognised California state water project too does not have this number of pump houses. Colorado state water project has only 6 to 11 pumping stations. The motors capacity in the Colorado project works with the horsepower of electricity. In Handri-Neeva pump houses works with megawatts of power. With the capacity of the unit taken into consideration, HNSS pump houses are established with the highest capacity.

Even in India, particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, there are many lift irrigation projects were built. But, in completed irrigations projects, no lift irrigation project does not these many pumping stations. Under construction projects like Devadula project having 20 pump houses, Kalwakurthy 15, Rajivbheema 20, Seetharama 19, Gandikota project is having 14 pump houses. Once the Kaleshwaram project completes the 82 pump houses will come into the utilisation.

MEIL has the honour to create this world's uniquely biggest and longest project. Nowhere in the world, the most number of pump houses and units built in this project. The construction first phase completed in 2012 with 12 pump houses. These pump house inaugurated by the Government. These 12 pump houses pumped the water to an average height of 200 meters. Under second phase water pumped to Ananthapur, Kadapa, Chittoor districts from Jeedipally reservoir for drinking and irrigation purposes. This Second phase inaugurated in this year by the State Government. Under the HNSS project, 40 tmc of water can be lifted to supply water to 6.25 lakh acres of agricultural lands and drinking water to 35 lakhs people in 437 villages of 81 mandals. The project was taken up prestigiously in 2006 by then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

Under the HNSS second phase, MEIL completed the construction works to supply irrigation water from Jeedipally reservoir to Madakashira branch canal to supply water to 4,04,500 acres. 19 pump houses built to supply water to 74,400 acres in Penugonda, Hindupur, Madakashira constituencies through this canal.

Water will be pumped to 18 pump houses across the 155.2-kilometre branch canal from Jeedipally pump house. On the Madakashira branch canal, MEIL established 81 pumps in L1 to L17 and L4A pump houses. MEIL also built 132/6.6KV power substation at Jeedipally pump house. 33/6.6 KV sub-stations were built at the remaining pump house by MEIL.