Congress government’s delayed reaction on Kaleshwaram repairs draws criticism

Experts have criticised the delay in initiating repairs to barrages under the Kaleshwaram project, questioning the government’s response timeline after structural damage was reported, and raising concerns over the impact on farmers and irrigation infrastructure.

Hyderabad: The delayed response of the Congress government over repairs to the three barrages of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project has triggered sharp criticism from experts and policy analysts, especially given the timeline of events.

Two piers at the Medigadda Barrage sank in October 2023, raising structural and safety concerns. Despite the urgency, the government has decided to move forward with repair plans nearly two years later, covering Medigadda, Sundilla and Annaram barrages.

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Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy chaired a review meeting on Sunday and announced the formation of a high-powered steering committee, appointing tunnel expert Parikshit Mehra as convenor.

The committee is expected to meet twice a week, with daily monitoring mechanisms also being put in place.

However, critics argue that these steps should have been initiated much earlier.

Public policy analyst Mohan Guruswamy openly questioned the delay, suggesting that political considerations may have taken precedence over timely infrastructure repair.

“The Telangana government dawdled for two long years doing nothing but blame the failures (relatively minor) at three barrages to make political hay at the cost of farmers,” Mohan Guruswamy asked in a social media post.

He specifically asked why the State government had delayed the repairs. “Why did it take the Irrigation Minister so long to act? Petty politics? Chalo better late than never,” he said.