Telangana govt’s U-turn: Orders repairs to Kaleshwaram barrages

In a significant policy reversal, the Telangana Government has decided to repair the three barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme — Medigadda, Sundilla and Annaram. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed officials to act on the long-ignored recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority, stressing urgency and strict adherence to safety protocols.

Hyderabad: In a sudden reversal of its stand on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), the Telangana Government has decided to take up repairs to the three barrages of the massive project to restore them to an operational status.

So far, the Congress government in Telangana has consistently maintained that the barrages were inoperable and used this argument as a strategic tool to besmirch the erstwhile BRS government and the former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

---

The reversal of the stand was disclosed late on Thursday night, with the Government declaring that the Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had directed officials to take up repairs to three barrages — Medigadda, Sundilla and Annaram — of the Kaleshwaram project.

Revanth Reddy is stated to have issued express instructions that all works be carried out strictly as per the recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority and asked officials to expedite execution.

The NDSA recommendations have so far been kept in cold storage and never did the government show any inclination to take up repairs to the sunken pillars. However, during a review meeting on the irrigation sector on Thursday, Revanth Reddy issued the orders. The meeting was also attended by the Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy.

An official communique said the officials were asked to prepare a detailed action plan for the repairs and ensure continuous monitoring. All agencies involved have been put on alert to speed up the work.

The Chief Minister, it was said, asked for the conduct of tests and sample collection under the Central Water and Power Research Station, which should be completed before the onset of the monsoon.

He suggested the constitution of a dedicated official team with representatives from the Irrigation Department, CWPRS, construction agencies and design consultants. He also directed that members of the Central Water Commission be involved at every stage.

Engineers informed the meeting that the study would cover the entire 1.6-km stretch of the barrage, not just the sunken pillars at Medigadda barrage. In response, the Chief Minister directed officials to drill 500 borewells near Medigadda and prepare a special action plan. He asked them to procure the required machinery and complete the work at the earliest.

He also instructed the officials to finalise designs for the repair works and prepare a comprehensive schedule for execution up to December. Stressing that delays would not be tolerated, Revanth Reddy assured that there would be no shortage of funds. He also suggested setting up a base camp at Medigadda.

The Chief Minister, an official statement said, would personally visit the site to review progress once work begins.