Hyderabad: A team of scientists from the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, arrived at Srisailam Dam in Nandyal district on Tuesday to assess the plunge pool’s depth – a section damaged by the 2009 floods and flagged repeatedly for repairs.
Dam officials held a review meeting with the CWPRS team upon their arrival, followed by an on-site inspection of the plunge pool area. This marks yet another round of scrutiny into the structural health of the dam, where erosion under the crest due to floodwater intensity remains a major concern.
In April, a separate delegation from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), led by chairman Anil Jain, had also inspected the site. That team reviewed the approach road, gates, gallery, and the massive cavity formed downstream of the dam face after the 2009 deluge. Officials began the visit with a detailed PowerPoint briefing at the dam’s viewpoint meeting hall, before heading to the structure for a closer assessment of the crest gate operations, stop-lock mechanisms, and water retention status.
Chief Engineer Kabir Basha had briefed the NDSA delegation on the existing plunge pool cavity, warning of its long-term threat to dam safety. Despite multiple expert reviews, repair works have faced persistent delays.
The latest inspection comes as part of growing pressure on authorities to prioritise structural reinforcement. The NDSA team’s visit was prompted by repeated lapses and slow action despite visible damage raising alarms over negligence in critical safety upkeep.
