Telangana Minister Cites Dam Safety Authority, Rules Out Water Storage in Kaleshwaram Barrages

Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has stated that water cannot be stored in the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram project, citing recommendations from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA). The minister described the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s (BRS) demand to switch on pumps at the Kannepalli pumphouse as 'silly', noting that releasing water into the Annaram barrage is not feasible due to structural deficiencies, including concerns about its foundation.

Reddy said the gates of Annaram and Sundilla cannot be closed because the barrages have multiple structural defects. The state government has resolved to undertake a holistic rehabilitation of the three barrages in line with NDSA guidelines, which deemed them unsafe for water storage and diversion.

The minister launched a sharp critique of the previous BRS government, alleging that the Kaleshwaram project was executed with procedural lapses. He pointed out that agreements with contractors were signed in 2016, but technical clearances and administrative approvals came two years later. 'The BRS leaders have no moral right to speak about the project, as the damages occurred in 2023 when they were still in power,' he said.

Reddy claimed the previous government ignored warning signals and proceeded to store water, leading to the sinking of piers. The NDSA highlighted a lack of geotechnical inspection, operation and maintenance issues, and structural design flaws that increased stress on the barrages. He noted that the NDSA, as the apex dam safety body, summarised extensive damages in the Kaleshwaram project, and the then government did not even prepare an operation and maintenance manual for the project.

The minister referred to a judicial commission report that held the BRS government directly responsible for the state of the barrages. 'The commission indicted the then chief minister, irrigation minister, and finance minister for procedural and financial irregularities, failure of governance, and undue political interference,' he said. The government has requested a CBI inquiry into the lapses, which is pending.

Reddy also said the previous government wrongly shifted the project base from Tummidihatti to Medigadda without proper studies, resulting in the sinking of piers at Medigadda. 'It is now established that the problems at block seven of Medigadda are not isolated, and similar issues exist at the other two barrages,' he added.

The government is following NDSA recommendations and assessing various parameters to rectify lapses and rehabilitate the project. Steps have been taken to deploy latest technologies to fill the technological void. The minister said the government is evaluating the adequacy of design and other aspects, which currently reflect the incompetence of the BRS government, causing hardships to north Telangana due to the El Nino impact. Reputed consultancies have been tasked with designing a project to pump water from Tummidihatti.