Telangana: Kaleshwaram agencies tasked with fresh assessment of barrages

Move follows recommendations by National Dam Safety Authority to establish a baseline for rehabilitation of Medigadda, Annaram, Sundilla barrages

Hyderabad: Amid logistic concerns and financial issues, the construction agencies that implemented the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) have reportedly been asked to submit detailed reports on the current condition of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, the key components of the project. This move follows recommendations by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) to establish a baseline for the rehabilitation of these critical structures.

The agencies have been mandated to comply with the assessment of the structures under a time-bound programme while inflows from the Pranahita river exceeded 5,000 cusecs at Medigadda. Heavy siltation at Annaram and Sundilla have made it difficult for them to access the structures and meet deadlines. The agencies have also been pressing for the clearance of pending bills for studies and works completed by them in the previous season.

Officials too acknowledged that, despite receiving final nod from the NDSA for going ahead with the rehabilitation programme, no immediate work could be undertaken due to the monsoon season. The rehabilitation programme, which includes the demolition and reconstruction of the seventh block of the Medigadda barrage, is slated to commence only after November, when river inflows subside with the monsoon’s retreat.

As part of the rehabilitation strategy, the government has prioritized geotechnical and geophysical assessments, including borehole and core sampling tests, as recommended by the NDSA. These tests, aimed at evaluating the structural integrity of the barrages, have been conducted and shared with the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) in Pune for further analysis.