State officials push for proactive approach to Kaleshwaram rehabilitation

Officials argue that initiating the rehabilitation process now could expedite the resumption of pumping operations, ensuring water supply to Kharif farmers at least by June 2025.

Hyderabad: Though without much success, the State engineering authorities are pushing for the immediate formulation of a design and action plan for the rehabilitation of the Kaleshwaram barrages well before the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) submits its report.

Officials argue that initiating the rehabilitation process now could expedite the resumption of pumping operations, ensuring water supply to Kharif farmers at least by June 2025. Without such an advance programme, it would be challenging to provide water even for Rabi 2025, potentially extending the rehabilitation schedule to 2026, which would be costly for the State and its farmers. Project officials have suggested in writing a proactive approach to the rehabilitation of the KLIS with multiple reminder letters to the ENC (General). However, the ENC is reportedly in a bind, with the government showing little interest in taking up any advance activity. According to officials, the government is inclined to wait for the NDSA report, expected by the end of December. This report might be further delayed if the recommended studies are not completed in time.

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Central organizations, such as the Central Water and Power Research Institute (CWPRI), have been engaged in critical studies on the impacted structures of the Medigadda barrage, a key component of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP). Tasked with conducting geophysical and geotechnical investigations as recommended by the NDSA, CWPRI’s efforts were interrupted by the onset of the monsoon season, which brought significant inflows to the barrages.

CWPRI’s studies, which began earlier this year, were only halfway complete when the monsoon rains began and the investigations continued ever subsequently. To finalize their studies, CWPRI requires the Medigadda barrage to be free of water storage for at least a couple of weeks. The current inflows are expected to recede only towards the end of November, potentially delaying the completion of the studies.

According to official sources, the CWPRI team is committed to speeding up the necessary investigations to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the barrage. The findings from CWPRI’s studies will be instrumental in guiding any necessary repairs and ensuring the long-term stability of the barrage. The state engineering authorities are keen on not waiting any longer and emphasize the need for an immediate action plan.

It is expected to minimize the wait time for water supply resumption and to support the farmers relying on the Kaleshwaram project. In a recent development, critical questions were raised regarding the need for a tail pond at Medigadda to manage the high-pressure force released from the gates of the barrage during flood. Extension of the apron of the barrage by at least another 45 metres was recommended. A sampling study conducted by L&T revealed that the non-construction of a tail pond below the Medigadda barrage has led to significant soil erosion and the formation of large potholes, which have gradually caused sand to slide under the foundations of the barrage.

To address these issues, the Irrigation Department has decided to construct a tail pond to absorb the pressure and prevent damage to the downstream area. Ramagundam Chief Engineer of the Kaleshwaram Project, K. Sudhakar Reddy, has written to the Irrigation Department ENC (General) G. Anilkumar and impressed upon him the need for a proactive approach. The construction of the tail pond is considered a crucial step in ensuring the safety and stability of the barrages which aimed to draw 240 tmc of water from Godavari.