Congress seeks Centre’s technical guidance on Kaleshwaram barrages despite NDSA stand

The Telangana government, despite NDSA’s clarification that operational decisions on barrages rest with the State, has sought technical guidance from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and NDSA on pumping and storage operations at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages.

Hyderabad: Despite the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) making it clear that the decision on pumping water from the , Annaram and Sundilla barrages rested with the State government, the Congress government has decided to seek technical guidance on the future operation of the three barrages. Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday directed officials to immediately write to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and
the NDSA seeking technical advice.

At a review meeting with senior irrigation officials, the Minister reiterated that the Telangana government had been maintaining the barrages in free-flow condition in accordance with the NDSA’s recommendations to address safety concerns.

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“Written advice from a competent technical authority would be mandatory before deciding whether storage and pumping operations could be resumed safely,” he stressed.

Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to enclose relevant portions of the NDSA report, earlier technical observations and supporting documents with the communication to ensure the technical basis for the government’s decision was placed on official record.

The State government has maintained this position even as Telangana faces deficit rainfall and farmers continue to grapple with acute water shortage for irrigation.

Technical concerns over pumping operations

The review meeting also examined the possibility of pumping operations during the current monsoon. Officials explained that downstream water flow alone did not make pumping technically feasible, as adequate upstream water levels could not be maintained under the present conditions.

They cautioned that temporary interventions and pumping without meeting the required hydraulic conditions could be ineffective and might worsen the existing structural concerns beneath the barrages.

“No operational decision will be taken based on political pressure or visual assessment. Every decision would be guided by sound engineering evidence and the recommendations of competent technical authorities,” Uttam Kumar said.

Interestingly, officials also informed the Minister that recent statements by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti and the Ministry’s correspondence had reiterated the general policy that operational decisions on barrages rested with State governments. However, they said the communications did not specifically address the NDSA’s recommendation to maintain the structures in free-flow condition.

The Minister instructed officials to accurately cite the relevant portions of the NDSA report and include supporting material such as findings of the Central Water Commission, Ground Penetrating Radar investigations, photographs, cavity assessments beneath the raft foundation and other engineering evidence.

Officials informed the Minister that the Central Water and Power Research Station was in the final stage of analysing the latest Ground Penetrating Radar data and other technical inputs. They said water could not be impounded at the Annaram barrage at present as investigations had indicated cavities beneath the raft foundation.

Based on the investigations completed so far, officials said a rehabilitation concept design for the Medigadda barrage would be ready by the end of August, while a preliminary rehabilitation cost estimate would be prepared by mid-September. They also said additional technical inputs relating to the Annaram and Sundilla barrages, including analysis of the investigation data, would be available within the next two weeks. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to present preliminary rehabilitation proposals before the Technical Oversight Committee at its next meeting.