HYDERABAD: The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has flagged serious design, construction, and maintenance flaws in the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages built under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. According to its recent report, structural weaknesses, poor construction quality, and inadequate maintenance have caused severe damage, rendering the barrages unusable.
Irreparable damage to Medigadda barrage block 7
The report particularly highlights block 7 of the Medigadda barrage, where three piers have completely collapsed and others have suffered partial damage. NDSA has declared the block unusable and recommended either its safe removal or in-situ stabilisation to prevent further impact on adjoining blocks. It also emphasised the need to completely fill the voids beneath the raft and conduct a fresh structural analysis considering the interaction between the soil and the structure.
Serious flaws in design and construction
The NDSA report noted that construction of the barrages began even before the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was approved, violating the Dam Safety Act, 2012. Furthermore, changes to the construction sites and designs of the Annaram and Sundilla barrages were made without any geotechnical studies. The report also pointed out that model studies were inadequately conducted and that the hydraulic-structural designs were insufficient.
Negligence by the irrigation department
The irrigation department came under sharp criticism for failing to undertake adequate maintenance and repair measures. The temporary safety measures and technical tests recommended in initial inspections were neither fully nor effectively implemented. Moreover, grouting was carried out even before technical tests were completed, complicating the assessment of specific causes of the damage.
Political reactions
Telangana’s Irrigation Minister, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, described the NDSA report as a scathing indictment of the previous BRS government. He said that the BRS administration had taken loans exceeding ₹1 lakh crore to build a project that collapsed during their own tenure. He termed it a grave betrayal of farmers and asserted that those responsible must be held accountable.
Future measures
The NDSA has recommended that a comprehensive rehabilitation plan be prepared for all three barrages, with leading institutions engaged and the plan reviewed by the Central Water Commission. It further suggested that instruments be installed within the barrages to enable continuous monitoring of their structural behaviour and early detection of any anomalies.
The Telangana government has announced that it will undertake a detailed review of the NDSA report and will decide on further action after discussions within the cabinet.
