View of the Lakshmi Barrage of Kaleshwaram, where some pillars sank raising questions about its future.
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
After two years of political and administrative controversy over the structural ability of the barrages of the Kaleshwaram project, the government has decided to repair the three barrages based on the suggestions of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA).
The government has invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from reputed design agencies for preparing rehabilitation and restoration designs of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages. A notification issued by the Irrigation and Command Area Development (I&CAD) Department said that the EOIs must be submitted by October 15. Chief Engineer of the Central Designs Organisation said the empanelled agencies will be tasked with preparing rehabilitation designs based on the investigations conducted by the NDSA committee.
Some piers of the Medigadda barrage, the main barrage of the Kaleshwaram project sank in October 2023, just before the Assembly elections giving a shot in the arm to the Congress party that blamed the BRS government of compromising on the quality of the project. The incident had a huge impact on the BRS prospects as the Congress relentlessly attacked the KCR government.
The NDSA was asked to probe the incident by the Congress government and the committee submitted its final report in April 2025. It recommended rehabilitation plans for all three barrages — Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla, citing serious design and construction deficiencies.
In its 378-page report, the NDSA pointed out construction flaws and design weaknesses. The report also concluded that upstream barrages Annaram and Sundilla have shown structural distress, cannot be used unless repairs were carried. It recommended that rehabilitation designs be prepared by reputed institutions and reviewed by the Central Water Commission.
The Justice P.C. Ghose Commission constituted in March 2024 to investigate alleged irregularities in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of the Kaleshwaram project, submitted its report on July 31, 2025. It also pointed out serious lapses on several fronts.
Meanwhile, the BRS lashed out at the Congress government for wasting two years in the name of investigations and finally repairing the damages as has been demanded by the BRS. It claimed farmers suffered due to the inaction of the government.
Published – October 03, 2025 09:54 pm IST
