No timeline indicated so far for urgent repairs to Srisailam project

National Dam Safety Authority had directed Andhra Pradesh to submit a detailed repair plan within 30 days; experts also have been sounding caution against further delays in addressing the safety concerns of the project

Hyderabad: Even as the monsoon deadline looms, the much-needed repairs on the plunge pool of the Srisailam project, have remained a non-starter so far.

The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) had directed Andhra Pradesh to submit a detailed repair plan within 30 days. Experts also have been sounding caution against further delays in addressing the safety concerns of the project.

Telangana’s Engineer-in-Chief G Anil Kumar also wrote to the NDSA stressing that any catastrophic failure at Srisailam would have severe downstream consequences, impacting the Nagarjuna Sagar and Pulichintala dam, and even Vijayawada. The condition of the Srisailam dam has become a major source of worry for both the Telugu States.

The NDSA has directed the Andhra Pradesh government to complete urgent repairs to the dam’s plunge pool area by May 31. The directive follows repeated warnings from different agencies that raised the alarm over a large void in the plunge pool that could compromise the dam’s stability.

The plunge pool issue dates back to the 2009 floods, which caused severe erosion downstream of the spillway, according to the irrigation officials. Over the years, the void has expanded, posing a potential threat to the dam’s foundation. Despite multiple reports highlighting the risks, Andhra Pradesh has not yet initiated repairs, prompting criticism from the NDSA for neglecting the issue for over a year.

A 2024 safety report underscored the urgency of the situation, warning that the deep scour in the plunge pool was progressing toward the dam, increasing the risk of structural instability.

Telangana has urged Andhra Pradesh to implement temporary measures, such as filling the void with cement concrete tetrapods to mitigate further erosion before full-scale repairs can begin.

Way back in 2022, works costing Rs 900 crore were proposed for dam development. They included Rs 780 crore for plunge pool restoration. In 2021, a requirement of Rs 1,000 crore was cited to take up repairs on the dam and its plunge pool.

While several funding proposals have been made over the years, actual disbursement has been limited. The World Bank approved Rs 103 crore in 2024 for dam repairs, including Rs 10 crore specifically for plunge pool restoration. Additionally, the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) was allocated Rs 14.70 crore for a comprehensive safety study, with Rs 3 crore released for preliminary assessments.

An allocation of Rs 108 crore was indicated under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) this year. Despite these allocations, bureaucratic delays and insufficient annual maintenance budgets have hindered progress. Andhra Pradesh has been urged to use state resources for repairs due to delays in central funding. The response of AP is still awaited.

Precarious Position

• NDSA directs Andhra Pradesh to complete plunge pool repairs of Srisailam project by May 31
• Overall rehabilitation may need over Rs 1,000 crore
• Telangana warns of structural risks while seeking repairs on the project
• Funding delays hinder repairs, despite Rs 103 crore assistance indicated by the World Bank
• Monsoon is approaching, raising fears of further issues with its safety
• Andhra Pradesh yet to respond with a timeline for repairs