Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to expedite restoration of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram project, with work scheduled to begin in December and all repairs to follow recommendations from central agencies and dam-safety experts.
At a review meeting with ministers and irrigation officials, Revanth Reddy stressed that barrage safety must not be compromised and directed the department to secure final clearances by the end of November. The restoration proposals are estimated to cost about ₹4,193 crore.
Officials said investigations into the condition of the three barrages had been completed with the help of national-level experts and central technical institutions. A central government expert committee has given in-principle approval to preliminary restoration plans.
The proposed works would be carried out in two phases, covering restoration of the barrages’ water-holding capacity and protective measures. The Chief Minister directed officials to process approvals and other requirements in parallel to avoid delays.
The meeting also discussed the use of Godavari water downstream through the Devadula and Sitarama lift irrigation schemes. Officials said 16.71 TMC had been lifted through Devadula and 8.10 TMC through Sitarama by October, taking the combined total to 24.81 TMC.
The government said the average annual lifting through Devadula had increased from 9.57 TMC during the previous administration to 18.13 TMC over the past three years. Officials told the meeting that lifting water from Medigadda to Yellampalli was currently technically unfeasible. They said the National Dam Safety Authority had advised that the gates at Annaram and Sundilla be kept open because of structural defects.
The Chief Minister said the government would coordinate with central agencies to obtain the necessary clearances and ensure that restoration work complied with dam-safety guidelines. He also said the damage to Medigadda underscored the need to avoid errors in the execution of major irrigation projects.
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior officials, including Irrigation Secretary Sridhar, Secretary for Tunnels and Safety Colonel Parikshit Mehra and Joint Secretary Srinivas, attended the meeting.
