Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Telangana government had decided to fast-track Kaleshwaram barrage repair works and restore all three key barrages at the earliest.
He directed officials to accelerate rehabilitation and bring the project back to full operational status under a time-bound programme. The decision followed a high-level review held on Sunday.
Senior department officials attended the meeting. Representatives of the Central Water and Power Research Station also joined the review. In addition, agencies handling design and implementation, including L&T, took part in the discussions.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said statutory agencies had identified major defects in the barrages. The National Dam Safety Authority and the Vigilance Commission flagged flaws in foundations, design and execution. He added that the core issues remained similar across Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla.
The minister said 2027 and 2028 would be crucial for Kaleshwaram barrage repair works. Therefore, he asked officials to treat these two working seasons as critical for completing repairs. He said Annaram and Sundilla could meet the timeline, while Medigadda could achieve partial operations.
Kaleshwaram barrage repair works timeline set for 2027–28
Meanwhile, the government finalised AFRY India as the design consultant. The firm will work with IIT Mumbai in a joint venture. Uttam Kumar Reddy instructed the team to work round the clock throughout the week.
“We need the design as early as possible. The designs will have to be sent to the Central Water Commission for approval immediately after submission,” he said.
He also asked consultants to stay in constant touch with Secretary Parikshit Mehra. Moreover, he directed them to report any issue without delay. This step aimed to speed up Kaleshwaram barrage repair works.
The minister said the design process would rely on detailed technical studies. These include geophysical surveys, geotechnical assessments and soil analysis. In addition, teams will carry out hydraulic modelling. He instructed officials to complete all tests on priority.
Kaleshwaram barrage repair works backed by technical studies
The review showed that the government linked repairs to strict technical validation. Once teams complete the designs, they will send them to the Central Water Commission for approval. As a result, the state plans to move quickly from design to clearance.
Officials confirmed that the government adopted a structured repair schedule. It will cover Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla together instead of taking a piecemeal approach. While two barrages will be fully ready within the timeline, Medigadda will run partially alongside the process.
Uttam Kumar Reddy reiterated that the government remained committed to restoring the project quickly. He stressed that defects affected all three barrages in a similar manner. Therefore, the state pushed for faster design, testing and execution under Kaleshwaram barrage repair works.