Telangana: NDSA final report on Medigadda ready, likely to reach state govt soon
The report is also expected to play a crucial role in the judicial commission headed by retired Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose probing the circumstances that resulted in the problems at the three barrages, particularly the partial breaking and sinking of one of the Medigadda barrage’s blocks.
Hyderabad: An expert committee is likely to submit its final report to the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) recommending appropriate solutions to the problems at the Medigadda barrage of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme and its possible rehabilitation or repairs. The NDSA will submit the report to the Union jal shakti ministry.
Once the jal shakti ministry studies the report and gives the go ahead, the final report on the future of the Medigadda barrage, as well as those at Annaram and Sundilla — also part of KLIS — will be sent to the state government for taking the required steps.
Originally, the report was to be readied by October 2024, but it was delayed as all the required tests on the three barrages as sought by the NDSA were not completed. It was later expected that the report would be ready by end of December 2024 but now it is finally reported to be ready.
The report is also expected to play a crucial role in the judicial commission headed by retired Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose probing the circumstances that resulted in the problems at the three barrages, particularly the partial breaking and sinking of one of the Medigadda barrage’s blocks.
During the commission’s hearings so far, several irrigation department engineers, as well as the contracting companies that built the barrages, all indicated design faults, shortcuts in planning, and poor maintenance as reasons for the seepages, leaks, and the damages to the barrages.
Incidentally, Justice Ghose is expected to return to the city soon to continue with the commission’s work. The term of the commission is set to end on February 28 and it is likely that the government will grant one more extension till end of April providing the time required for the commission to complete any further cross examinations it has planned for, and its report.