CM Revanth Reddy to Embark on Field Visit to Kaleshwaram Project

Chairing a review meeting at the Secretariat on Saturday, where irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy briefed the participants, the Chief Minister expressed the view that the subject needed to be discussed threadbare at a Cabinet meeting. Though the plan was to do so on Saturday, with the proposed Cabinet meeting was postponed following denial of permission by the Election Commission, Revanth Reddy said that all options for interim monsoon protection, as well as long-term safety of the barrages, need detailed discussions, according to a press release from the Chief Minister’s Office.

Revanth Reddy enquired about the recommendations made by the NDSA in the interim report on KLIS and the measures that were needed to be taken. NDSA has recently submitted an interim report on the repairs and temporary restoration of the damaged Medigadda and Sundilla barrages, considered the most important structures in the Kaleshwaram project.

The NDSA had in 2019 cautioned about the threat to the barrages.

As the monsoon season will commence in a few weeks, the Chief Minister said that the measures to be taken in the meantime will have to be discussed in the cabinet meeting. The state government will take a decision on whether to repair the damaged structures or opt for alternative measures in consultation with the irrigation department.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that irrigation department officials, who also attended the meeting, explained about NDSA’s suggestions for a deeper study of the situation at the three barrages. The meeting was attended by ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao and Konda Surekha and CM’s adviser Vem Narender Reddy.

The irrigation department officials have been asked to initiate the process whereby CWPRS will take up a detailed study of the faults at the three barrages.