Medigadda Barrage: Unmindful of farmers’ misery, Congress Govt to constitute yet another committee

The slow-paced approach to the rehabilitation of the project has ignited fresh concerns among farmers

Hyderabad: The State government is all set to constitute yet another expert committee to study the current status of the Kaleshwaram barrages – Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla and oversee its rehabilitation works.

The new panel will be chaired by former Central Water Commission (CWC) chairman AB Pandya.

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The slow-paced approach to the rehabilitation of the project has ignited fresh concerns among farmers. With structural damage to the Medigadda barrage first reported in October 2023, the prolonged delays in restoring these critical irrigation structures have left thousands of farmers in Telangana’s northern districts without reliable water supply, threatening their livelihoods for yet another crop season.

The Medigadda barrage, a key component of the ambitious Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, suffered distress in Block-7, including sinking piers and cracking. The Congress government, terming it non-functional, blamed the previous BRS regime. Similar issues, such as seepage and piping distress, were claimed to have been identified at the Annaram and Sundilla barrages.

The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), in its April 2025 report, attributed the damage to design, inadequate maintenance, and water storage practices. It recommended demolishing and reconstructing Block-7, after conducting comprehensive geotechnical and structural assessments for all three barrages.

However, the government’s slow response has drawn sharp criticism.

Farmers in districts like Jayashankar Bhupalpally and Mulugu, who rely on the KLIP for irrigation, are growing increasingly frustrated.

“We’ve lost three crop seasons already, and now they’re saying repairs won’t start until November 2025. How are we supposed to survive?” asked Venkatesh Rao, a farmer from Mahabubabad district.

The delays have forced many to depend on erratic rainfall or costly borewells, pushing small farmers into debt. The peasant bodies have estimated that over 50,000 farmers have been affected, with agricultural losses running into crores. The newly constituted committee, tasked with charting a rehabilitation plan, is expected to take months to finalise its recommendations.

Experts warn that the actual repair work, including the demolition and reconstruction of Block-7, could extend beyond 2026, depriving irrigation support for two or more crop seasons.

“The process is complex,” said an Irrigation Department official, citing challenges like heavy siltation, logistical constraints, and pending financial clearances for contractors.

The implementation agencies such as Larsen & Toubro and Afcons had already contested the observations made by the NDSA on the barrages. The NDSA’s recommendations remain unimplemented as the contractors have raised concerns about inconsistencies in the report, further delaying consensus.

The State government’s consultations with the CWC for technical assistance, which remained inconclusive, have further slowed progress. “The government promised us restoration of water supply to our irrigation channels with Kaleshwaram and SRSP stage II, but we’re left with dry fields and empty promises,” complained Sekhar Reddy, in Suryapet district.