Watering Agriculture’s Future
India’s agriculture supports over 500 million people, that is 45% of our workforce and drives 18% of GDP. But, natural calamities like floods and droughts bring uncertainty. Strong irrigation changes this situation, giving steady water for better crops and a new revolution. MEIL Group builds this future with smart projects that free farmers from weather worries. We focus on timely delivery and real benefits for rural communities from the last two decades by executing lift irrigation, piped irrigation, micro and drip irrigation projects.
MEIL Group’s Irrigation Business Unit is constructing 71 projects in 10 different states of India, as of December 2025. We handle lift irrigation schemes, canals and river link, drip systems, tunnels and pipeline projects. From Polavaram irrigation project, the world’s biggest spillway to Asia’s largest drip irrigation project in Karnataka, we set records with the construction of several pumphouses across India with highest capacities and thousands of kilometres of pipelines.
Lifting Water to Farms
Lift irrigation pumps river or reservoir water to fields ensuring seasonal farming possible. Telangana is where MEIL Group truly shines in irrigation, executing 19 active projects that are changing the lives of farmers every single day. Right at the centre is the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project, the world’s biggest multi-stage lift system. We installed 105 machines across 15 pump houses. In these, our Gayatri underground pump house, has several powerhouse machines (each 139 MW capacity) hidden underground, pulling up 3 TMC of Godavari water everyday, where works related to 2 TMC capacity completed and the remaining 1 TMC additional works are progressing briskly.
We are implementing a few major segments of Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme(LIS) that lift Krishna water strategically. MEIL Group is also constructing Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Scheme. Additionally, there is Malkapet LIS, Manjeera LIS, Godavari LIS, Basaveswaram LIS, plus essential canals and old Kaleswaram upgrades. We also handle smart pipelines like the Nellikal LIS, AKBR LIS, crucial segments of Dindi LIS and Udayasamudram Lift Irrigation project. The transformation brings 70% less groundwater strain, rabi crops.
MEIL Group is constructing the Polavaram Project, a massive, multi-purpose irrigation project, located on the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh, India. This project features the world’s largest spillway, with a discharge capacity of 50 lakh cusecs through 48 massive hydraulically operated radial gates. Unlike conventional dams, the 1.18 kilometre length spillway is located on the right bank of the Godavari River, as the riverbed in the central portion consists of deep sand layers unsuitable for foundations. To make this possible, the entire river course has been diverted for 6 kilometres towards the right bank, enabling the complete flood flow to be routed through the spillway.
The main dam structure is an Earth cum Rock fill(ECRF) dam, uniquely positioned across the river and we are constructing this in three parts- Gap1, 2 and 3, together spanning 2.45 kilometres. Among these, Gap 2 is the most crucial, as it lies in the deepest and most sensitive portion of the river, directly influencing reservoir storage and flood safety. Gap 2 ensures structural continuity between the rock abutments and the central dam body, making it the backbone of the ECRF Dam.
In Madhya Pradesh, we have two projects. Kalisindh Phase-2 micro lift irrigation project will supply water to about 220 villages, covering nearly 2.7 million acres of agricultural land. The water is sourced from the Indira Sagar project to Khandwa district through India’s longest single pipeline of 107 kilometres. The pipeline system also includes India’s biggest 4.6 m dia pipeline and 7,000 kilometer pipeline network. We are also constructing four pump houses with a total of 45 pumping units, lifting water to a height of 138 meters in four stages. Sanwer Micro LIS aids local farms with easy water access.
Our projects in Gujarat include the UKAI Lift Irrigation Scheme, Panam LIS, Sauni Yojana and Kutch Branch Canal project. MEIL Group constructed multiple high- capacity pump houses on the Tapi River, installing large- diameter rising mains. The Panam Lift Irrigation project is designed to overcome water scarcity and support over 130 villages, including Shahera, Godhra, Kalol, and Ghoghamba.
Under the Sauni Yojana, major stretches were executed to lift surplus Narmada floodwater and supply it through a 1,125 km closed pipeline network instead of open canals., High‑capacity pump houses with associated 66/6.6 kV substations together create about 2,761 million cubic feet of pumping capacity to fill 115 dams in Saurashtra and additional reservoirs. Two major pumping stations on the Kutch Branch Canal lift Narmada water over higher ground and carry it further into the arid interiors of Kutch district. Each station has machines, intake wells, delivery manifolds and large‑diameter pipelines with electrical and surge‑protection systems.
The Jiagon LIS and Khadakwasla Fursungi Tunnel in Maharashtra supply water to over 1.2 lakh acres of peri- urban farmland. In Odisha, 5 Megha Lift Clusters (XVIII, XXI, V, DMF), Gangadhar Meher LIS, and Lower Suktel irrigate 1.8 lakh acres in tribal areas, increasing yields by 45%, providing drinking water to 1.2 lakh households.
MEIL Group has pioneered 5 landmark river linking projects that redefined water management in India, featuring in the Limca Book of Records. The Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project in Andhra Pradesh connected Godavari to Krishna rivers. Designed to lift about 8,500 cusecs during the flood season through 24 large vertical turbine machines with a combined installed capacity of 113 MW, the scheme was executed in about one year from March 2015 to March 2016.
Narmada-Kshipra-Simhastha Link in Madhya Pradesh became India's first river linking project using lift irrigation, transporting Narmada water 78 km from Omkareshwar Reservoir to the sacred Kshipra River, benefiting 162 villages across 3 tehsils in the Malwa-Chambal region. Muchumarri Lift Irrigation integrated Srisailam backwaters to KC Canal for Penna-Krishna basin connectivity, while Purushottapatnam Lift linked Godavari to Yeleru Reservoir, supplying water to Visakhapatnam city, industries, and East Godavari farms. Featuring a combined pump house with four high-capacity machines discharging about 1,000 cusecs, the scheme is commissioned in 2017.
Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) Project is the largest lift irrigation drawing 40 TMC Krishna floodwater from Srisailam. We have constructed 43 pump houses, each designed to lift water in stages at Malyala village to distant command areas across Rayalaseema. These pump houses are equipped with high- capacity pumping units, electro mechanical systems and control infrastructure to ensure reliable operation under continuous lifting conditions. This project provides irrigation to 6.02 lakh acres across Kurnool, Anantapur, Cuddapah, and Chittoor while supplying drinking water to 33 lakh people in 81 mandals.
We champion water- smart precision drip irrigation, transforming farming efficiency across India. Our Ramthal drip irrigation project in Bagalkot, Karnataka is Asia’s largest drip project. This project spans 2,150 kilometers of pipelines using advanced Israeli Netafim technology to deliver water directly to crop roots while filtering Krishna River sediments. In arid Anantapur, our drip systems will maximise scarce water in drought- prone zones, enabling higher yields with minimal usage. These smart solutions will cut water consumption by 60%, boost crop productivity by 40%, minimize soil erosion, and protect groundwater.
Key Wins & Awards
Our irrigation excellence has earned prestigious national recognition, including the CBIP Award for Best Industry in Water Resources for outstanding contributions to complex irrigation and drinking water projects. For completing the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project within one year, we secured a place in the Limca Book of Records. Additionally, our technology-enabled execution of Mega Lift Irrigation initiatives in Odisha was highlighted in Skoch Award recognition presented to the state irrigation department.
MEIL Group uses modern technology for strong, green water systems. Our projects ease shortages, grow food supply and lift rural India. From massive pumps to tiny drips, we match every need. We create jobs, boost economies and protect nature.