Kaleshwaram Investigation: NDSA under fire for failing to meet deadline

Despite multiple extensions, the NDSA has failed to accomplish the task assigned to it, further adding to the growing frustration of the farming community in Telangana over the lack of progress and transparency

Hyderabad: The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) is under fire for the prolonged delays and procedural complications in its investigation into the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) barrages, particularly the Medigadda barrage. Despite multiple extensions, the NDSA has failed to accomplish the task assigned to it, further adding to the growing frustration of the farming community in Telangana over the lack of progress and transparency. The NDSA was expected to submit its final report on the structural issues and rehabilitation of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages by December 31. However, the report is still pending, with no official confirmation on when it will be made available. This delay is raising concerns about the future of the project.

The State government has placed the responsibility for the KLIS investigation on the NDSA, attributing the project’s failures to the previous administration. However, the NDSA has failed to make headway on several counts, sidelining local officials and complicating the investigation process. State authorities undertook repairs on Medigadda before completing the necessary geophysical and geotechnical studies, violating NDSA’s conditions and resulting in data loss critical for the investigation. The NDSA has expressed dissatisfaction with these unapproved rehabilitation efforts.

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Despite engaging national agencies for technical studies based on NDSA’s recommendations, these studies were not completed in time. The NDSA’s expert team identified issues in planning, design, quality control, and operation and maintenance as the root causes of the damage. They recommended halting the reservoir filling until the barrage is fully rehabilitated.

Farmer’s frustrations and concerns

The ongoing delays and procedural issues in the NDSA investigation are severely impacting farmers in Telangana. With the potential extension of the probe, water availability for the upcoming Rabi and Kharif seasons is threatened, further adding to the farmers’ frustrations.

• NDSA failed to meet the December 31, 2024, deadline for the final report on the KLIS barrages
• The State government placed responsibility on the NDSA but complicated the investigation by sidelining local officials
• State authorities undertook unapproved repairs, resulting in data loss and complicating the investigation
• The delays and procedural issues are severely impacting water availability for the upcoming agricultural seasons, frustrating farmers further.