NDSA raises concerns over slow and substandard repair works at Singur Multipurpose Project

Officials of the National Dam Safety Authority have expressed concern over slow and substandard repair works at the Singur Multipurpose Project in Sangareddy district. Limited machinery and workforce could delay completion, affecting irrigation and drinking water supply to surrounding districts and Hyderabad.

Sangareddy: Officials of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) expressed anger over the manner in which repair works were being carried out at the Singur Multipurpose Project in Sangareddy district.

The team of officials, who inspected the ongoing works on Wednesday, observed that the contractor should have initially taken up the work at the location where the revetment was actually damaged. However, the work had been started from one end of the dam.

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The engineering officials also expressed shock over the contractor deploying only one JCB and one truck at the site. Even though the works need to be fast-tracked, as storing water in the project would be necessary during the coming rainy season to meet drinking and irrigation requirements, the officials pointed out that the repairs would not be completed if the work continued with such a meagre workforce and limited machinery.

The inspecting team also expressed visible dissatisfaction over the quality of the works. The works on the crest gates had not yet commenced.

Though the Irrigation Department wanted to complete the works before June, when the Manjeera river would receive inflows from upstream, there appears to be little possibility of completing the works by then. This could eventually force the department to keep the project dry for the entire next year.

Such a situation could push both farmers and the government into difficulty, as the project is the sole source of irrigation water for Sangareddy, Medak and Kamareddy districts. The water is also crucial for supplying drinking water to parts of Hyderabad, the erstwhile Medak district and the erstwhile Nizamabad district.