Delay in Trash Rack Works Affects Kadam Project Canal Repairs

 Adilabad: Construction of the trash rack to protect the left canal of the Kadam irrigation project in Nirmal district is under way, with delays reported in completion of works scheduled before the onset of the monsoon. Irrigation officials have taken up repairs to strengthen the canal and enable safe operation of project gates during water release, particularly in emergency conditions.

The trash rack is being installed to prevent damage to the canal when water is discharged downstream. However, new gates are yet to be fixed to the sluice of the left canal after removal of damaged ones. Officials said repair works are in progress to facilitate storage of water in the project and regulate downstream release by operating the gates as required.

At the same time, efforts are being made to store rainwater from upstream inflows amid forecasts of scanty rainfall linked to the El Niño effect.

Earlier, the government sanctioned Rs 9.27 crore in 2024 for repair works to the project, while electrification works were taken up at a cost of Rs 3.64 crore. A 100 KVA unit was added to the existing capacity.

Officials had faced difficulty in operating four of the 18 gates during heavy inflows, with two counterweights washed away while discharging floodwater.

The project suffered damage during floods in 2022 and 2023. Four gates remain stuck following heavy inflows recorded in July 2023.

Repair measures included erection of an iron roller for Gate No. 15, fixing of new counterweights to Gates 3 and 4, replacement of iron ropes and repairs to Gate No. 11.

The Kadam project has a full reservoir level of 700 feet and a capacity of 7.603 tmc ft. It is designed to irrigate 66,450 acres under the left canal and 1,700 acres under the right canal across Kadam, Jannaram, Dandepalli, Luxettipalli and Mancherial mandals.