Southern Districts of Telangana State of India are the worst drought-prone and distressed areas. There is a tremendous shortage of drinking water, as these are fluoride-affected areas. As a result, a large part of the population of these districts is being forced to migrate to other parts of the country. In view of the drought situation in the area, the Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme (PRLIS) was planned. PRLIS is intended to irrigate upland areas of Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda districts for a command area of 497,976 ha (12.30 lakh acres) and provide water for industrial use also. PRLIS is being constructed to lift water in five stages by pumping it from the foreshore of Srisailam reservoir on the Krishna River (FRL + 269.735 m) to K. P. Lakshmidevipalli reservoir (FRL + 670 m). Underground pump house caverns are being constructed at five places to lift 2.0 TMC of water daily for 60 days during flood season. Systematic examinations of each structure of such a large project throughout the construction phase will guarantee their long-term stability and safe operation under any unfavourable conditions of natural or artificial origin. In this paper for the foundation of the pump house of Stage-I, where 9 pumps of 145 MW capacity each will be installed, engineering geological and geotechnical investigations are discussed. The rock mass categorization of the pump pit foundations was done based on engineering geological mapping, laboratory test results, and fieldwork. The Rock Mass Rating (RMR) assessment for granitic rock masses, based on the rock joints and their nature, drill holes, and laboratory test data has been done. Allowable bearing pressure was estimated from rock mass classification, RMR, RQD, and rock core strength. Engineering geological and geotechnical data were used to recommend and establish acceptance standards for the foundation grade levels for the installation of pumps.