L&T and the state government are currently in a dispute over who is responsible for repairing the Medigadda Barage. The contract agency, L&T, is refusing to take on the repair works, claiming that their liability ended after the project was inaugurated by the previous government. However, the state government argues that the project is not complete and that L&T is responsible for the repairs.
The government estimates that repairing the damaged piers of the barrage will cost around Rs 500 crore. An initial vigilance report also supported the government’s stance that L&T should bear the cost of the repairs. To further assess the safety of the barrage, the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has been asked to conduct a fresh survey and provide recommendations for further action.
The issue of the damaged piers at Medigadda barrage became a major political controversy before the recent Assembly elections. The Congress and BRS parties are expected to continue debating this issue during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It remains to be seen how the government will proceed based on the NDSA report.
