Telangana Irrigation Secretary says Manjeera dam not in danger, repair works to begin with Rs 6.5 crore

Principal Secretary Rahul Bojja said the Manjeera dam is structurally safe and not under immediate threat. The government will begin Rs 6.5 crore worth of apron and earth dam repairs following SDSO recommendations. Crest gate leakages will also be addressed

Sangareddy: Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Rahul Bojja on Friday clarified that while the Manjeera dam has suffered some structural wear over the years, it was not under immediate threat.

He said the government would soon begin key maintenance works, including apron and earth dam repairs, with an allocated budget of Rs 6.5 crore.

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Addressing concerns raised in the recent State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) inspection report, Bojja said the dam was structurally safe and functioning normally.

“The dam is not in serious danger. The SDSO report is part of routine annual inspections. All necessary works suggested by the experts will be taken up,” he said.

The Manjeera dam, which supplies drinking water to Hyderabad and its surrounding areas, was maintained by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB). Bojja said Rs 3 crore was sanctioned for apron repairs, while Rs 3.5 crore would be utilised for earth dam strengthening works.

He noted that the earthen embankment had become somewhat fragile due to the unchecked growth of trees and shrubs on the bund. “We will address that too, but there is no immediate threat to the dam’s integrity,” he assured.

On the issue of water seepage from the crest gates, the Principal Secretary said expert agencies would be engaged to conduct repairs. He, however, clarified that there were no cracks in the concrete structure of the Manjeera dam.

Responding to queries about the Jurala project, Bojja admitted that there were issues with the crest gates and said remedial measures were under way. Regarding the Sangameshwara and Basaveshwara Lift Irrigation Projects, he said they were not on the government’s current priority list, but would be taken up eventually to stabilise ayacut.