Kaleshwaram remains political issue while similar dam failures focus on repairs

Nearly three years after structural distress at the Medigadda barrage, the Kaleshwaram project continues to dominate Telangana's political debate. Unlike similar infrastructure failures elsewhere in India, the focus has remained on political confrontation rather than repair, reconstruction and restoration.

Hyderabad: When major dams or hydropower projects fail elsewhere in India, governments typically respond with technical reviews, reconstruction and safety audits. However, nearly three years after three piers in the Medigadda barrage (out of 86) developed structural distress, the entire Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme continues to dominate Telangana’s political discourse.

Since assuming office in December 2023, the Congress government has made Kaleshwaram the centre of its sustained political campaign against the previous BRS government, alleging financial irregularities and engineering failures under the former BRS government. Investigations, probes by commissions, technical studies and criminal cases have kept the project in the political spotlight. However, the reconstruction or repair of the two piers that sank in one of the barrages has never engaged the government’s attention, for reasons best known to it.

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Interestingly, while being critical of the Congress government’s handling of irrigation, the BJP has broadly echoed the Congress’ political narrative on Kaleshwaram, ensuring that the project remains under constant political scrutiny. Elsewhere in the country, however, the response to similar infrastructure failures has been markedly different, with governments prioritising repair and restoration.

For instance, the Teesta-III hydropower project in Sikkim was devastated by the October 2023 glacial lake outburst flood, with the dam breached, the powerhouse submerged and downstream infrastructure washed away. The disaster claimed scores of lives, and subsequent studies pointed to planning deficiencies and regulatory lapses. Yet, the official response centred on rescue operations, technical assessment and reconstruction. The project is now being rebuilt at a cost of Rs 6,000 crore, with the focus firmly on restoration.

Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram project is another example. Audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General pointed to damage to the diaphragm wall, cost overruns, contract management failures, expenditure irregularities and rehabilitation gaps involving thousands of crores. Yet, the response revolved around expert reviews, revised execution plans, fresh audits and rehabilitation, rather than a prolonged political campaign against those who conceived the project.

A similar pattern emerged after the 2021 Uttarakhand flash floods severely damaged the Rishiganga and Tapovan-Vishnugad hydropower projects. The emphasis shifted to rescue, compensation and strengthening safety protocols for hydropower projects in the fragile Himalayan region.

However, Telangana stands apart. Here, the Medigadda barrage has come to define the entire Kaleshwaram project, even though it comprises an extensive network of three barrages – Medigadda (86 piers), Annaram (67 piers) and Sundilla (75 piers), 20 lifts, 20 reservoirs, 1,800 km of canals, tunnels, pressure mains and pumping stations.

While failures in projects such as Teesta-III, Polavaram and Uttarakhand’s hydropower infrastructure have largely been addressed through reconstruction, technical review and institutional correction, the Kaleshwaram project continues to be fought as a political battle. Efforts to restore and utilise one of the State’s biggest irrigation assets have taken a back seat.

Further, the Gujarat State Dam Safety Organisation (GSDSO) flagged serious structural issues at the Demi III and Machhu II dams in Morbi district in 2024-25. The State Assembly report raised concerns over severe concrete degradation and leakages, specifically noting that five of the 17 piers at Demi III required detailed investigation. After two years, the Gujarat government is yet to complete the repair works. However, the officials are storing the water at minimum levels and supplying irrigation water as a temporary measure.