The Munneru-Paleru Link Canal project, a major irrigation initiative in “United Khammam District“, is making headlines as it nears its official groundbreaking ceremony. Approved in May 2025 with a budget of ₹162.54 crore, this project aims to divert nearly 50 TMC of floodwater from the Munneru River to the Paleru Reservoir. The best part of this project is that it uses a natural gravity-based flow, meaning water moves on its own without expensive pumps. The government expects this to stabilize irrigation for 1.38 lakh acres and provide safe drinking water to Khammam, Suryapet, and Mahabubabad districts.
The project promises wide-ranging benefits for the agricultural, technical and financial benefits. It will provide extra water security to 40,000 acres of land under the Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) and support the SRSP Stage-2 area. It will also supply water to over 76,000 acres under the Bhakta Ramadasu Lift Irrigation Scheme and 46,712 acres under the Mothey Lift Irrigation Scheme in Suryapet. Financially, the project is a winner because it will save the government ₹120 crore every year in electricity bills. Plus, the extra water will help produce 2 Megawatts of hydel power at the Paleru plant.
The Protest in Garla
However, not everyone is happy. While Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is expected to lay the foundation stone on January 18, 2026, local farmers and leaders in the Garla area have called for a bandh (protest) on the same day. Speaking at the Khammam Press Club on Saturday, Protesters, led by former Yellandu MLA Gummadi Narsaiah argued that the project is unfair. They said it diverts water to the Paleru region which already has enough water while leaving the local Munneru area dry and claimed the project violates the PESA Act and the constitutional rights of tribal communities in the area.
The Demand for the “Munneru Project”
Instead of the link canal, Protesters, led by Gummadi Narsaiah are demanding the construction of the long-pending Munneru Project. They pointed out that back in 2009, the then-government (under Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy) had issued a GO (No. 1076) for ₹131.67 crore for this project, but no work has been done since then. They believe that the original project would be much better because it would directly help 60,000 acres in Yellandu, Mahabubabad, Dornakal, and Khammam constituencies. They feel the new link canal focuses too much on the Paleru area while ignoring the needs of the local people in Garla. As the Chief Minister arrives for his visit, the government faces the tough task of balancing big development goals with the concerns of local farmers.
Deputy Editor, Prime Post
Anand Gantela is a seasoned media professional with nearly three decades of experience across the spectrum of Indian journalism. Having worked extensively in both print and broadcast media, he has held key positions at renowned outlets such as Prajashakthi, Andhra Bhoomi, Mudra, Media India, Siti Cable, Mana Telugu, and Maa TV. From ground-level reporting to managing news bureaus and overseeing bulletin production, Anand has witnessed the evolution of news firsthand. His wealth of experience reflects a deep understanding of the dynamic and ever- evolving landscape of news reporting.
