Kaleshwaram Barrages Remain Unsafe for Water Operations, Says Telangana Minister

Hyderabad — The three barrages at Kaleshwaram remain unsuitable for water extraction until comprehensive rehabilitation and safety certification are completed, according to Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy.

At a press conference on Sunday, the Minister disclosed that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has barred operations at the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages pending scientific rehabilitation work. He dismissed opposition calls to immediately activate the Kannepalli Pump House for Godavari water diversion through these structures, framing the matter as an engineering concern rather than a political one.

Reddy attributed the current predicament to the previous BRS administration's prioritization of political interests over sound engineering practices during the Kaleshwaram project's execution. He contended that North Telangana would not face present irrigation challenges had the barrages been built with proper engineering standards.

Technical Defects Identified

The NDSA's final report has flagged multiple structural and construction issues at all three barrages. The foundations of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla structures face substantial technical concerns, the Minister stated, pointing to compromised secant pile cut-off walls, foundation seepage and piping, inadequate stilling basins, deficient energy dissipation mechanisms, and construction and quality-control deficiencies.

The Medigadda Block-7 has undergone considerable settlement following void formation beneath its raft caused by piping, Reddy explained. The Annaram and Sundilla barrages display comparable distress indicators. Impounding water before repairs are finished could create substantial hazards for downstream communities, including Bhadrachalam, he warned.

Timeline for Repairs

Scientific investigations and testing are nearing completion, with rehabilitation designs expected to be finalized during the current monsoon season. Construction will commence once floodwaters subside, with the government targeting rehabilitation completion by July or August 2027. During this interim period, the barrages will operate in free-flow mode.

Alternative Water Supply Plan

The Telangana government is simultaneously pursuing a long-term solution by developing a gravity-fed water transfer scheme to bring approximately 80 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic feet) from Tummidihatti. The state has commissioned RV Associates to prepare a Detailed Project Report and has begun preliminary discussions with Maharashtra authorities regarding barrage construction at Tummidihatti.