Agencies practically reject calls for taking up testing
Hyderabad: For the second straight year, the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme (KLIS), will not put to any use. There is little or no scope for conducting any of the scientific tests needed prior to taking up repairs, before the flood season begins in a few weeks.
It is learnt that the government, its latest efforts to get things moving, had asked the agencies that built the barrages to take up geophysical and geotechnical studies as per the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)’s expert committee final report.
The agencies were learnt to have made it clear that for them to do any work, they would require specific instructions on the studies to be done: where along the barrages, whether below the foundations or which side of the barrages – upstream or downstream. They were learnt to have informed the government that since the operation and maintenance period as per contracts was over, any work should ideally be the responsibility of the irrigation department, the full owner of the barrages.
The agencies were learnt to have politely pointed out, any work to be taken up at the sites would require fresh contracts. They were learnt to have informed the officials that bills for geotechnical, and geophysical tests already done as sought by the NDSA to determine the extent of damages at the barrages were yet to be paid by the government.
Sources said senior government and irrigation department officials discussed with representatives of Navayuga, Afcons, and L&T late on Monday the need for conducting the tests urgently as this year’s flood season is almost upon the Godavari. But this meeting got nowhere with the agencies pointing out the government first needed to finalise an institution that would do the required repair designs, and that this institution — after its assessment of current conditions – should specify its requirements on what tests, and how it would want them done.
The NDSA expert committee, had pointed out in its final report that the Central Designs Organisation (CDO) of the irrigation department, which was the original designer of the barrages, had declared that it was not capable of doing any work or provide designs with respect to the required repairs. The NDSA asked the Telangana government to finalise an institution, or a group of institutions with expertise in such matters, before any work could be done at the barrages.
It may be recalled that just last week the irrigation department officials were instructed by the government to ensure all the required tests are done before the onset of the monsoon, which incidentally, is moving into India a week ahead of schedule. The NDSA expert committee, had in its final report, suggested that any design plans for repairs, and other aspects of repair work, should be first vetted by the Central Water Commission.
Sources said that the irrigation department had been alerted by its officials at the ground level that unless the three barrages were repaired and put to use, there is every possibility of encountering water shortage for irrigation as well drinking water needs this year. Field officials were learnt to have suggested that the option of using the Annaram and Sundilla barrages for minimum storage should be explored for a short period to lift the water into the upstream Sripada Yellampalli project reservoir, but that this needs to be done with constant and critical monitoring of the entire system to avoid any abnormalities during the lifting process.
The sources also said that given the current circumstances, any possibility of using the barrages in any which way this year appears remote and their gates will most likely be kept open throughout the flood season to protect the barrages from any potential further damages.
Important Points:
Medaram, Annaram and Sundilla barrages unused since October 2023.
Little time left to conduct tests as recommended by National Dam Safety Authorty (NDSA) before onset of monsoon.
Rains to begin early this year, river bed will be unapproachable once the Godavari gets water.
Constructor firms say their contract has run out, need fresh agreements before they can begin work again.
Officials suggest using Annaram and Sundilla barrages for minimum storage, lift water to Sripada Yellampalli reservoir.
Most likely, the barrages will not be used this year too, and their gates will be left open.
