Hyderabad: Construction of the Sundilla barrage of the Kaleshwaram project, which sprang leaks from under its foundations and raised concerns about its safety, was completed by the BRS government without the engineers having full designs and drawings to do so.
This was revealed during testimony by irrigation department engineers on Tuesday before the Justice P.C. Ghose commission of inquiry probing various aspects of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme (KLIS)’s three barrages.
When Sundilla barrage engineers were questioned during the public hearing by the commission, they informed that Block 2A was built without designs. This prompted the commission to ask how that could be done.
This block was built between Blocks 2 and 3, the commission was told, based on design of Block 2. The commission was told that the decision to go ahead with constructing Block 2A based on Block 2 design was taken by the then engineer-in-chief Kaleshwaram, N. Venkateswarulu.
It may be recalled that the original location of Sundilla barrage was changed, along with that of the barrage at Annaram, as part of the then BRS government’s plans to impound water at the required levels to enable pumping.
During previous hearings, Venkateswarulu, under questioning, had testified that all work related to investigations at the changed locations was given to the contracted agencies, Afcons for Annaram, and Navayuga at Sundilla. Justice Ghose is expected to summon all the three agencies that built the barrages, including L&T PES-JV which built the Medigadda barrage for questioning soon.
On Tuesday, Justice Ghose questioned 16 irrigation department engineers on various aspects of Sundilla barrage. Those questioned were from the department’s Central Designs Organisation (CDO), and other assistant and deputy executive engineers.
The commission warned the department officials on their different testimonies, one submitted in the form of affidavits, and responses during questioning, and said that such wilful attempts to mislead the judicial commission could result in punishment.
On Monday, the commission had questioned officials involved with Medigadda barrage, and on Wednesday, it is expected to question another 18 officials involved with construction of the Annaram barrage.
