Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has formed a committee to inspect the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) at the request of the State Government. The expert committee is set to arrive on March 6 for a thorough examination of the project.
Uttam Kumar Reddy welcomed the formation of the expert committee and assured full cooperation from the State Government for its investigation. He highlighted that the government would prioritize the recommendations of the NDSA regarding the Kaleshwaram project.
The committee, led by J Chandrashekar Iyer, former chairman of the Central Water Commission, will investigate the sinking of Medigadda barrage pillars and any distress in the Annaram and Sundilla barrages. They have four months to submit their report to the NDSA.
The committee includes members U.C. Vidyarthi, R Patil, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Rahul Kumar Singh, and Amitabh Meena. It was formed following a request for a comprehensive investigation into the sinking of Medigadda barrage piers and potential damage to the other barrages.
The NDSA recommended emptying water from the Medigadda, Sundilla, and Annaram barrages after inspections revealed issues. The state government released the water as directed by the Authority, despite demands from BRS leaders to fill up the barrages.
Uttam Kumar Reddy criticized the BRS leaders for politicizing the issue and accused them of neglecting quality, maintenance, construction, and design during the Kaleshwaram project. He expressed disappointment in their attempts to downplay the incident at Medigadda Barrage.
He reiterated the Congress Government’s commitment to following the recommendations of the NDSA and the Expert Committee.
