Isolation of Affected Piers at Medigadda Barrage Underway for Expert Study

HYDERABAD: The irrigation department is constructing a cofferdam at the Medigadda barrage to pave the way for a comprehensive study of pier numbers 19 and 20, which sunk on October 21, as the Congress government steps up its action on the construction lapses here.

While the cofferdam would prevent the water flow, irrigation officials are also constructing an approach pathway for experts to reach the affected portion of the piers.

“We have started the construction of cofferdam a fortnight ago to drain out water from the affected piers. The move is aimed at conducting a detailed study of the piers 20 and 19,” said engineer-in-chief (irrigation) Nalla Venkateswarlu.

During the incident in October, supervising engineers noticed that pier number 20 had sunk by up to four metres while pier number 19 had sunk by two-and-a-half metres, having a cascading effect on half a dozen adjoining piers as well. The piers stopped sinking three days after the water was drained out.

As of 3 pm on Tuesday, the barrage, a key component of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (Klis) and having a capacity of 16.17 TMC ft, was getting an inflow of 15,390 cusecs, all of which were released downstream by opening 59 of the 85 gates.

“We are planning to complete the cofferdam construction works at the earliest so that we can take up corrective steps based on the advice of experts after inspecting the barrage,” a second irrigation official said.