Kaleshwaram barrages to be restored scientifically
Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Friday that the state government will undertake the repair and restoration of three barrages, part of the Kaleshwaram project, scientifically and transparently.
He met National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) Chairman Anil Jain in Delhi on Friday and discussed the state government's action plan for the repair and restoration of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages.
The minister explained the precautionary measures the government is taking to prevent past errors from being repeated.
According to an official release, the NDSA Chairman expressed satisfaction with the manner in which comprehensive testing is currently being conducted under the supervision of experts. He stated that he would personally visit the barrages soon.
As part of the barrage restoration process, the government has already appointed expert agencies. Specialised agencies for design and testing have commenced their operations.
The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) is conducting the necessary preliminary tests and studies required before the design phase.
To facilitate the restoration of the barrages, various techniques, including Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scanning, drone surveys, borehole drilling, and geotechnical and geophysical testing, are being utilised to assess the condition of the underlying soil and the structural integrity of the constructions.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that to ensure coordination among various organisations, the government has formed a Central Coordination Committee. This committee comprises officials from the Irrigation Department, representatives from CWPRS, representatives from the design firm, and members from other technical agencies.
The committee is tasked with ensuring that tests are conducted promptly, that necessary data is provided on schedule, and that effective coordination is maintained with all participating agencies.
The government is also taking measures to ensure that this entire process is carried out in strict adherence to technical standards, under the supervision of experts at the central level. There is also the possibility of including a special technical expert team in this committee, should the need arise.
Once the results of all tests are received and a comprehensive analysis of the data is conducted, the design firm will identify existing structural defects and prepare new designs for restoration work.
These designs will be submitted to the National Dam Safety Authority; subsequently, the government will initiate restoration work in accordance with the Authority's suggestions and guidelines.
The irrigation minister said that the government aims to complete all necessary tests and finalise the designs within the next three to four months, before the onset of the monsoon season.
The initiative is moving forward and intends to commence restoration works following the monsoon season.
