"ndsa"

The Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) has already been engaged in intensive studies on the barrages.

The Judicial commission headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose started its work in May and made multiple visits to the project as part of the information gathering exercise.

The Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS), one of the three agencies whose services were drafted for this purpose, is yet to reach Medigadda barrage.

RS leaders were trying to incite regional feelings by making baseless allegations against the Congress Government, the State government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir said in a statement.

Ahead of his visit, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday had a review with officials of the Irrigation Department and representatives of L&T.

The Chief Minister sought the details and recommendations suggested by the NDSA in its interim report submitted to the government.

Accordingly, steps are being taken by Irrigation officials to complete the works on priority latest by June 10. But the Irrigation Department is yet to finalise terms with the implementation agency, L&T.

The NDSA team visited both Naragurjuna Sagar and the Srisailam projects in February this year to conduct safety inspection of the project structures.

As the State government is expected the investigation to be completed within 100 days as per the timeline set for the commission, he is already into serious business. 

The latter had briefed the commission on sequence of proceedings that led to the decision for taking up the construction of three barrages at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla and the source of water that was lifted from Godavari river.

They maintained that the department could have completed that task also by now as suggested with minimum hydraulic force.

Quoting reports received from the Irrigation Department, the Committee said 77 out of 85 radial gates in Medigadda Barrage have been successfully lifted.

This exercise has to be completed in advance, taking adequate precautions. By raising the gates, water storage at an undesired level can be avoided, even in the event of heavy flooding.

Known for its highest pumping and motor capacity in the world and its support of the largest surge pool facilities, just one of the seven pumps was switched on, resuming its operation around 4 pm on Sunday.

But certain structural issues observed in the project have to be addressed on permanent basis on the 57-year-old major irrigation project.

If the complexities involved in the issue are to be taken into consideration, nothing of that sort is going to happen before March 2025, senior official in the averred.

In addition to the regular maintenance works, the NDSA team that visited the project some time ago, had also identified certain shortcomings in the maintenance.

The NDSA expert team has made significant progress in gathering information for its investigation into the structural issues reported in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme's barrages.

The team wanted the heads and representatives of various agencies involved in the implementation of the project to make themselves available in Delhi for further interaction and questioning.

The team insisted on comprehensive information on as many as 20 aspects pertaining to the designs and construction of the barrages, according to senior officials.