Singur project to be emptied for urgent repairs after NDSA warning

Following an alert from the National Dam Safety Authority, the irrigation department has decided to empty the Singur Dam to carry out urgent repairs. The dam, which supplies water to Hyderabad and Medak, will remain dry for nearly two years

Sangareddy: In response to recommendations from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), the irrigation department has decided to keep the Singur multipurpose project empty to facilitate urgent repair work. Following an NDSA alert, water storage in the dam has already been reduced to 16 TMCft, compared to its gross capacity of 29.91 TMCft, despite the project receiving a record 220 TMCft of water during this year’s rainy season.

Singur Dam is a crucial source of drinking water for Hyderabad and provides irrigation for Medak and Nizamabad districts besides serving the needs of Mission Bhagiratha. It is considered the lifeline for the region. During its inspection on June 23, the NDSA found severe damage to the dam’s earthen embankments and revetments, along with cracks in the parapet wall and the top of the embankment, posing serious risks to the dam’s stability.

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A breach in the dam could flood Sangareddy and Medak towns as well as several villages along the river, potentially impacting other water bodies such as Nizam Sagar and Ghanpur Anicut. As a result, the irrigation department is prioritising the recommended repairs.

Officials said the project would need to remain dry for at least two years to complete the required works. A proposal has been sent to the State government seeking permission to empty the reservoir by December to begin repairs without delay. Permission from the government is expected within a week. The State government has already released Rs 16 crore for the repairs, based on a detailed report from the irrigation department.

During the repair period, only 0.85 TMCft of water can be maintained in the dam. The 40,000 acres of ayacut under Singur in Sangareddy district will have to shift to alternative crops for the next two years. Earlier, 7 TMCft of water was released annually for Hyderabad’s drinking water through HMWSSB, 6 TMCft for Mission Bhagiratha, and 4 TMCft for irrigation in Sangareddy district. The remaining water served ayacut under Ghanpur and Nizam Sagar.

Meanwhile, officials from HMWSSB and Mission Bhagiratha are making alternative arrangements to meet water requirements during the repair period.