Revanth insists on NDSA recommendations for Medigadda water lifting

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed irrigation officials to strictly follow National Dam Safety Authority guidelines on the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages, warning against storing water against recommendations.

Hyderabad: Amid growing water scarcity due to El Nino impact, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy insisted that the officials strictly adhere to the recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) on the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages. He also wanted them to maximise the utilisation of the Godavari River waters with water levels already depleted.

At a review meeting with Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy at the MCRHRD Institute on Wednesday, Revanth Reddy said water should not be stored in the three barrages against NDSA’s recommendations. He made it clear that water lifting from Medigadda should be undertaken only in accordance with the safety authority’s recommendations.

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Uttam Kumar Reddy informed the meeting that several deficiencies had been identified in Sundilla as well as Medigadda. Revanth Reddy directed officials to consult the NDSA on the faults at Sundilla and act on its recommendations.

The Chief Minister also directed officials to maximise lifting from Yellampalli, Devadula and Sitarama projects. Uttam said nine pumps at Devadula had been operated. Revanth asked officials to address minor operational issues in Devadula and Sitarama as a priority.

He also ordered field inspections and factual reports on submerged villages, compensation and rehabilitation, besides a comprehensive study on enhancing the capacity of the Gattu and Gudendoddi lifts. A consultant was also set to be appointed for the Gudendoddi pumped-storage project.

In a separate review, Revanth directed officials to recover all dues from rice millers against the value of paddy supplied to them. He warned that deliberate defaulters would face stringent action while genuine millers would be treated leniently.

The Chief Minister also proposed handing paddy allocations meant for persistent defaulters to women’s self-help groups for milling. He ordered pilot silo-bag projects in Nalgonda, Suryapet, Nizamabad, Peddapalli and Kamareddy and asked officials to identify private warehouses, function halls, old theatres and other structures for advance leasing.