Andhra Pradesh to Restore 789 Lift Irrigation Schemes

On 11 November 2026, the Andhra Pradesh government announced a planned expenditure of ₹632.07 crore to restore 789 defunct lift irrigation schemes across the state. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to complete the repairs by June 2027, before the ensuing kharif season. Officials said the work would provide irrigation facilities to 7.49 lakh acres.

Repairs and monitoring

Naidu instructed officials to conduct field inspections, call tenders immediately and begin repairs without delay. He directed the Water Resources Department to establish an operation and maintenance mechanism for the schemes. The Jalaharathi Corporation was asked to monitor them continuously through a dedicated division. Naidu also said a Chief Engineer or Superintending Engineer could be appointed in each district, if required, to oversee their operation and maintenance.

Important Facts for Exams

• Two-stage conveyance: Lift irrigation pumps water from its source to a main delivery chamber at the command area’s highest point, then distributes it to beneficiary fields.
• Gravity-fed distribution: After water reaches the delivery chamber, distribution is typically gravity-based and designed around the hydraulic head available.
• Contour-based layout: A prevalent design divides the command area into topographic blocks, sizes pipelines to head and demand, then uses field chambers and valves to control flows.