The Kaleshwaram system of Telangana

Known forLink two — the second step up the Godavari.

The second barrage upstream of Medigadda. Water raised at the first is pushed back up the river into the pool behind this one — the scheme works by re-impounding the same river at successive heights rather than by carrying water away from it, which is what makes the map of it look like a staircase laid along a channel.

SettingGodavari barrage · Staircase impoundment

Known forLink eight — the top of the lift.

The highest storage in the chain and the end of the lift. Water that entered the system at the lowest point in the state is held here several hundred metres above it, which is the whole claim the scheme makes about itself — and the reason its running cost is an electricity bill rather than a maintenance one.

SettingPlateau reservoir · Highest storage of the chain · Gravity command below

For the examFrom the lowest point in Telangana at Medigadda to the highest storage here, the scheme raises the Godavari several hundred metres — which is why its recurring cost is power rather than water.

Known forLink seven — the largest of the new plateau reservoirs.

The largest of the new reservoirs and the most contested, because a storage of this size on the central watershed is built on inhabited farmland rather than in a valley. It is also the point from which the scheme can reach both the Musi side and the Godavari side, which is what the position on the divide buys.

SettingPlateau reservoir · Central watershed · Submerged farmland

For the examSiddipet’s position on the divide is the reason the biggest storages are there: water held on a watershed can be released to either side.

Known forLink one — the barrage below the Pranahita confluence.

The head of the whole scheme, built across the Godavari just below where the Pranahita delivers its water into it. The site is chosen for exactly that: it is the first point on the river where the combined flow is available, and it is also the lowest point in Telangana, which is why everything after it is a lift.

SettingGodavari barrage · Pranahita confluence · Lowest point of the scheme

For the examThe first of the three barrages, and the reason the scheme is at Kaleshwaram at all: the Pranahita has just joined, so the water is there before anything has been built to bring it.

Known forLink five — where the lift meets the old canal and turns south.

Lifted Godavari water meets canal water from the Sri Ram Sagar here, and the two become one supply. From this reservoir the scheme turns south for the first time: everything beyond is the distribution half, and everything before it was the raising half.

SettingManair impoundment · Central plateau · Two-source junction

Known forLink six — the first plateau reservoir.

The first of the new plateau storages, built to hold water that has already been raised so that it does not have to be raised again. Its height is its purpose: from here the supply can be let down by gravity into several commands at once rather than pumped into each.

SettingPlateau reservoir · Central watershed · Gravity command

Known forLink four — where the water leaves the Godavari.

The point where the scheme stops being a river and becomes a pipeline. Water arriving from Sundilla is stored here and then lifted out of the Godavari basin altogether, up onto the plateau and into the Manair. Everything downstream of this is uphill and inland.

SettingGodavari barrage · Basin exit · Industrial water supply

For the examThe Yellampalli barrage existed before Kaleshwaram, built for Ramagundam. The scheme adopted it rather than building a fifth structure — which is why it appears both on this layer and among the dams.

Known forLink three — the last step on the river.

The third step, and the last one still on the Godavari itself. Above it the water leaves the river for good: it is lifted into Sripada Yellampalli and from there turns inland, away from the valley it has been climbing.

SettingGodavari barrage · Staircase impoundment · Coalfield reach