Excess works by Andhra Pradesh at RLIS, says KRMB team

Three-member team of the Krishna River Management Board opined that works taken up by Andhra Pradesh at the RLIS site were in excess than needed

Hyderabad: The works taken up by Andhra Pradesh at the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS) site were in excess than needed, opined the three-member team of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB).

The team led by KRMB member secretary DM Raipure and two other members — KRMB member (Power) LB Muanthang and Central Water Commission, HCD, Director Darpan Talwar — pointed out in the 12-page report that the works ‘were in excess than what is, in general, required for the purpose of the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) as per the Ministry of Water Resources’ Guidelines for Preparation of Detailed Project Report of Irrigation and Multipurpose Projects’.

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Responding to the team’s observations, Telangana Irrigation Department officials said the report exposed the construction activity at the RLIS site.

Following the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which is to hear the matter on Monday, the team visited the site and in the report observed that two batching plants had been installed at the site. Further, coarse aggregates, fine aggregates and sand were seen stacked besides the batching plant at the site. They also observed that the approach channel was completely submerged as the water level in the reservoir was reported to be at EL 884.8 ft. during the visit.

The RLIS Chief Engineer informed the team that the approach channel had been partially excavated to the extent of about 30 per cent of total excavations at various locations to different elevations along the length. The excavation levels had not reached up to the bed level of EL 800 ft, they were informed.

Due to the submergence, the team could not ascertain the extent of excavation undertaken in the approach channel. It was, however, observed that a ledge of about 15m had been kept unexcavated between forebay and approach channel to prevent the entry of water into excavated area of the forebay.

It was also observed that a major portion of forebay, with the full length of 237m and its width, has been excavated to varying depths. The average excavated level of the forebay towards the pumphouse side was observed to be lower than the invert level of delivery tunnels, the report said.

The depth of excavation of the forebay was observed to be of the order of about 150 to 180 ft towards the pumphouse end. Two side ramps to facilitate movement to lower levels of excavation were also observed. It was also observed that the shotcreting on the walls of forebay had been carried out.

It was found during the visit that the full length of 250m and width of 40m of pumphouse pit had been excavated upto about EL730 ft. The pump house pit excavation levels were observed to be below the level of the invert of delivery tunnels.

The support to rock mass in the form of shotcreting/ shotcreting with pattern rock bolting was observed on the vertically excavated walls of the pumphouse pit. It was observed that 10 tunnels out of a total of 12 had been excavated for putting up a 5m-diametre pipeline (delivery main).

The excavation of tunnels for a short length of reportedly about 35-50m had been carried out and the delivery cistern excavated to its full length and width. A significant depth of delivery cistern had also been excavated. The link canal of the length of about 500m was proposed to connect the delivery cistern with the Srisailam Right Main Canal (SRMC), the report said, adding that no activity was going on at the site during the team’s visit.

The team also enclosed photographs of the site with the report.

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