Hyderabad: An expert committee has concluded that the construction of the barrages in the Kaleshwaram project began without approval of the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The committee, which prepared a report for the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), submitted its findings to the state government after reviewing the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages. The final report was presented to the government, with NDMA Chairman Anil Jain sending a letter to Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari.
According to the committee, several irregularities were found during the construction phase. The report highlights violations by the Irrigation Department, including alterations to the designs of the Annaram and Sundilla barrages without the necessary technical evaluations. Maintenance lapses were also identified, particularly delays in repairs despite issues arising in the first year of operation. The failure to adhere to dam safety laws has further aggravated the situation.
The committee also identified significant issues at the Medigadda barrage, where a large cavity formed under Block 7, damaging a pier. The poor quality of the cutoff sections led to the collapse of the pier. Additionally, the cutoff systems at both the upstream and downstream of the structure failed due to quality issues. The report recommends comprehensive testing of all three barrages, including geotechnical and geophysical studies, along with hydraulic model studies.
The committee also pointed out inadequacies in the design and construction of the energy dissipation and structural elements. It raised concerns over the cutoff walls of all the barrages and urged coordinated action from all concerned departments to address these issues and ensure long-term safety.