HYDERABAD

Various tests recommended into the structural, technical, geological and geophysical aspects of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram project as part of their rehabilitation following damage suffered by them are nearing completion, and the focus is on the rehabilitation designs, Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

He said the designs were being prepared to enable safe restoration of the three barrages, and the government would not permit their operation until experts certified them as safe.

“Extensive investigations covering the soil, foundations, concrete and other structural components were carried out through premier national institutions, including the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) and others,” the Minister said. He added that the testing process was almost complete and the findings were forwarded to IIT Bombay and its technical partners for preparing detailed repair and rehabilitation designs.

Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the designs were being prepared to enable safe restoration of the three barrages. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRAGEMENT

The designs were expected over the next few months and after which the State government would take up rehabilitation works by obtaining all necessary technical approvals. Preliminary assessments indicated that construction of a diaphragm wall across the barrages could form part of the rehabilitation strategy. He said the Union Government had already constituted a Technical Oversight Committee to scrutinise the rehabilitation proposals before the commencement of repair works. Restoration would be strictly in accordance with the recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the oversight committee.

The Minister said the government had also engaged experienced engineers with Indian Army background to strengthen technical coordination during the rehabilitation process. A coordination committee headed by Colonel Parikshit Mehra was supervising the testing and planning exercise to ensure transparency and engineering integrity.

Published - July 20, 2026 09:28 pm IST