Revanth Directs Repair Works of Damaged Kaleshwaram Barrages

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday directed officials to undertake the repair of three damaged dams at Medigadda, Sundilla and Annaram, which are part of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme (KLIS), and bring them back into use at the earliest. He directed that all work be carried out in line with the recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and emphasized that the repair process should be expedited without delay.

Revanth Reddy was addressing a meeting along with irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy to review the Kaleshwaram project. He called for the preparation of a special action plan for the repair work and instructed the authorities to ensure constant supervision. Revanth Reddy also directed that all relevant institutions should be alerted and mobilized to speed up the pace of work.

He emphasized that the tests and sample collection carried out under the supervision of the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) should be completed before the onset of monsoon. The Chief Minister suggested constituting a team comprising officials of the irrigation department, CWPRS, dam construction agencies and design consultants, with the participation of members from the Central Water Commission (CWC) at every stage of the study.

During the meeting, engineers informed the Prime Minister that not only the submerged pillar at Medigadda but the entire 1.6 kilometer dam should be examined. Revanth Reddy directed the officials to prepare an action plan for drilling 500 borewells near Medigadda and arrange the necessary machinery to complete the work in the shortest time.

He also instructed that the repair designs should be finalized quickly and a comprehensive program for the works to be carried out by December should be prepared. Making it clear that there should be no delay, the Prime Minister assured that there would be no shortage of funds for the project. He instructed the authorities to establish a base camp in Medigadda and said that he would personally visit the area and inspect it once the work begins.

Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, Irrigation Minister Sridhar, Chief Minister’s secretary Manicka Raj and senior officials from the irrigation department attended the meeting.