RAMADUGU: The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), aimed at irrigating 37 lakh acres in about 15 districts, is set to create another record of sorts. The motors and the pump houses of the package 8 of the project are designed to lift a record 3 tmcft of water daily, supposedly a first in the world. Though the motors and pump houses will lift only 2 tmcft water daily basis, it can, if situation demands, lift up to 3 tmcft during the flood days, officials have said.
The Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL), which is executing the works of the package-8, claims it’s also creating another world record. “No other irrigation project in the world has ever used 139 MW capacity underground pumping station with seven units. MEIL has made the impossible possible now,” claimed MEIL director B Srinivas Reddy. “We will start using five out of total seven motors in package-8 of KLIS in the next two months,” he added. The eight package of the project, that has the biggest underground pumping station in the world, is touted to be an engineering marvel.
Though the contract for this package was awarded in 2009, actual works began only three years back. The reason for this success, he said, was the company did not have a sub-contracting system and did all the works itself.
“Deadlines are also adhered to because of our logistics,” Srinivas Reddy insisted. MEIL has been importing all the vital electro-mechanical equipment needed for erecting the pump house from various countries. “Normally, it takes not less than a month for the equipment shipped from Hamburg port in Germany to reach the Indian port. However, MEIL has decided to airlift part of that equipment. Rest of it shipped from Austria, Hamburg and Italian ports will reach India by July 7,” it said.
The turnover of MEIL was Rs 100 crore some 15 years ago and its last year’s turnover touched Rs 20,000 crore. “MEIL has Rs 62,000 crore worth work orders, currently. We have got `8,000 crore worth work orders in the last two months,” Srinivas Reddy said. Of the total work of Kaleshwaram, MEIL is executing 55 per cent work including package 8. The rest is being done by other contracting agencies.
EQUIPMENT AIRLIFTED:
The Kaleshwaram project is all set to witness another momentous event. Key electro-mechanical equipment required for assembling pumps and motors of the massive pump house (under link 1 of the project works) are expected to reach the project site in a couple of days. MEIL has made all the arrangements to move the equipment to the project site from various sea and airports. MEIL has been importing all the vital electro-mechanical equipment needed for erecting the pump house of the prestigious Kaleshwaram. One set of Impeller, a vital part of pump set, has already arrived. Ten Shaft Seals are expected to arrive at Chennai port by July 7. Motors of another four units will arrive in Mumbai by June 28.
Package 8 of KLIS
World’s only underground pump house with 139 MW capacity
139 MW capacity means 1.86 lakh horsepower
MEIL completed the works in a record 3 years
Three surge pools to come up in package 8