Will Restore Kaleshwaram Barrages On Priority: Uttam

Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy today said that the Telangana government was determined to bring all three critical barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project - Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla - back into operation at the earliest.

The minister said that rehabilitation works would be fast-tracked to restore the project to full operational status in a time-bound program.

Reddy held a high-level review on the rehabilitation of KLIS barrages with key officials of the irrigation department, representatives of the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), agencies tasked with rehabilitation design, and implementation agencies, including L&T, at his Secretariat chambers.

The minister said that statutory agencies, including the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the Vigilance Commission, had flagged serious defects in the foundations, design, planning and execution of all three barrages. He said that the fundamental problems were identical across the three structures.

He directed officials to treat the next two working seasons (2027 and 2028) as crucial for completing the KLIS repairs. He expressed hope that Annaram and Sundilla could be fully restored within the set timeline, and Medigadda could be made at least partially operational simultaneously.

The government had already finalised a design consultant - AFRY India - to work in a joint venture with IIT Mumbai, he said, and instructed the design team to work round the clock, seven days a week.

"We need the design as early as possible. The designs will have to be sent to the Central Water Commission (CWC) for approval immediately after submission," he said.

The minister asked the consultants to stay in constant touch with Secretary Parikshit Mehra and bring any issues directly to his notice.

Reddy said that the design process would be backed by comprehensive geophysical, geotechnical, soil, hydraulic modelling and other studies, and directed officials that all required tests and data be completed on a top priority basis.