HYDERABAD: Irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy will visit the Sundilla, Annaram, and Medigadda barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) to assess the progress of monsoon protection works at the barrages.
With the rainy season setting in over southern Telangana, most of Karnataka, and parts of southern Maharashtra at least four days ahead of the expected June 10 date, a sense of urgency has gripped the irrigation department officials and the government. They aim to ensure that all the protection works recommended by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) at the barrages are completed as quickly as possible.
The government had earlier set a deadline of June 10 for the completion of works that included repairs and refurbishing of the flood dissipation concrete blocks downstream of the barrages, grouting under the foundations of the barrages to fix leaks, and lifting all gates at these barrages. Of particular concern is the Medigadda barrage, with a portion of Block 7 sinking and two of its piers developing serious cracks.
According to an official release, Uttam Kumar Reddy will visit the barrages and interact with engineers from L&T, the company that built the Medigadda barrage; Afcons, which built the Annaram barrage; and Navayuga, which built the Sundilla barrage. These companies were tasked by the state government to implement the interim recommendations given by the NDSA to ensure no further damage occurs to the barrages once the flows in the Godavari increase. Uttam will be accompanied by senior irrigation department officials during the visit.
While Sundilla and Annaram receive Godavari flows, the river is joined by the Pranahita River upstream of Medigadda, which adds to the flows and increases the volume of water that reaches Medigadda compared to the water that passes through the Sundilla and Annaram barrages.
Meanwhile, L&T is completing work on a coffer dam to prevent the river’s flows from reaching the stricken Block 7 of the Medigadda barrage. According to an L&T representative, they are hopeful that the coffer dam can withstand up to 10,000 cusecs of water flow.
Meanwhile, it is learned that Justice P.C. Ghose, heading the judicial probe into various irregularities related to KLIS, is also expected to visit the barrages. He is scheduled to visit Annaram on June 7, followed by Sundilla the next day. He is expected to begin his inquiry next Monday.
