Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Kaleshwaram barrages at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla would resume operations only after rehabilitation works are completed and independently cleared by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC).
Addressing a press conference at Vijay Vihar near the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam on Saturday after reviewing irrigation works with senior engineers, the Minister said the State government’s priority was the safety, sustainability, and protection of public assets rather than political considerations.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the barrages would not be operated until every required rectification was completed. He added that the rehabilitation plan would undergo stringent proof-checking by the NDSA and the CWC before any decision was taken.
The Minister said the Kaleshwaram barrages represented a public investment of more than Rs.1.1 lakh crore and stressed that the government had a responsibility to protect public funds. He warned that operating the barrages before completing repairs could pose risks to nearly 40 villages, besides the temple town of Bhadrachalam.
Scientific studies guide Kaleshwaram barrages rehabilitation
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the government had adopted a scientific approach for rehabilitation. He said fresh geotechnical investigations, non-destructive testing, Ground Penetrating Radar surveys, drone-based studies, and more than 100 boreholes had been undertaken to assess the structural condition of the barrages.
He added that all gates were currently being kept open and the barrages maintained in an unloaded condition in accordance with NDSA recommendations. International experts, the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), and the Central Water Commission were jointly examining the rehabilitation designs to ensure all technical deficiencies were rectified before operations resumed.
The Minister assured that repair works would be completed without compromising safety or engineering standards. He also directed irrigation officials to prioritise maintenance of the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, strengthen canal infrastructure, and expedite pending irrigation projects.