Unveiling Concerns: Medigadda Barrage Under Scrutiny
Led by Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy who said that The Kaleshwaram Project is Impracticable, the team of ministers expressed their apprehensions about the Kaleshwaram project as they observed the damages at the Medigadda barrage. Minister Reddy highlighted the unfortunate situation where, despite claims by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government that the project is the world’s largest irrigation initiative, the Medigadda barrage suffered damage with no prompt efforts for restoration.
Allegations and Inaction: Previous Government Under Scrutiny
Minister Reddy went on to criticize the handling of the situation, pointing out that the pier sank on October 21. Surprisingly, neither the then Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao nor the irrigation minister took any immediate action. The lack of a review or official statements further fueled concerns among the ministers.
Telangana’s recently inaugurated Congress-led government conducted an on-site inspection of the Medigadda barrage on Friday. The visit was prompted by the alarming sinking of some of its piers, affirming their earlier suspicions about the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.
Concerns Unveiled by Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy
Leading the ministerial delegation, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed dismay over the state of the Medigadda barrage. He highlighted that despite the previous BRS government’s claims of it being the world’s largest irrigation project, the Medigadda barrage had suffered damage, and regrettably, no restorative actions were taken.
Lack of Prompt Response
Minister Reddy pointed out a concerning lack of prompt action, emphasizing that when a pier sank on October 21, neither Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao nor the irrigation minister of that time reviewed the damage or issued a statement.
Scope of Damage: Annaram Barrage and Sundilla
Minister Reddy further revealed that the Annaram barrage had developed cracks, and sand erosion was observed in the third barrage, Sundilla. He emphasized that the entire Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project hinged on the stability of these three critical projects.
Judicial Inquiry and Ministerial Visit
Asserting their commitment to transparency, Minister Reddy informed that a judicial inquiry had been initiated into the alleged irregularities. The ministerial team, comprising Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar, and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, arrived at the Jayashankar Bhupalapally barrage via helicopter from Hyderabad. Their visit included an aerial survey followed by an inspection of the damaged section.
Engineer-in-Chief’s Presentation: Assessing the Damage
During a power-point presentation, Engineer-in-Chief C. Muralidhar detailed that one pier in the seventh block of Medigadda had sunk by 1.256 meters. The extent of the damage is still under assessment, with ongoing construction of a coffer dam. Post-completion, a decision will be made on whether to repair the damaged part or opt for reconstruction. The expert committee has recommended the necessity of new gates.
Historical Context and Financial Concerns
Minister Reddy recalled the Congress rule in united Andhra Pradesh, citing the Pranahita Chevella project designed at a cost of Rs 38,000 crore. However, after Telangana’s formation, the BRS government altered the Medigadda project design, resulting in an expenditure of Rs 95,000 crore with only a lakh acre of land irrigated. He criticized the previous administration for what he deemed as negligence in spending public funds and executing works with subpar quality.
Allegations of Corruption and National Project Status
Minister Reddy didn’t shy away from alleging corruption in the Kaleshwaram project, a prominent issue in recent Assembly elections. Both Congress and BJP accused large-scale corruption, with Minister Reddy specifically asserting that the previous government failed to secure national project status for Kaleshwaram.
Telangana’s Ambitious Water Projects Eye National Recognition
Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) in the Spotlight
In a significant move, the Telangana Government, led by Minister for Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, is set to seek national project status for the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS). Additionally, the government plans to revisit the Pranahitha Barrage, the primary head barrage of the original Pranahitha-Chevella project. Minister Reddy revealed these intentions during a comprehensive review meeting held near Medigadda to assess the damage suffered by the Kaleshwaram project barrages.
A Critical Review: Unraveling the Past Decisions
Accompanied by Ministers D. Sridhar Babu, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, and Ponnam Prabhakar, along with legislators G. Vivekanand and T. Jeevan Reddy, the review addressed various concerns regarding the planning, redesigning, and construction of Kaleshwaram project components. The consensus among the officials was that the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Government had altered the Pranahitha-Chevella project to Kaleshwaram, driven by political motivations and other factors.
Seeking Clarity: Questioning Previous Choices
Expressing their reservations, the Ministers and legislators raised questions about the extensive irregularities within the project. They emphasized the importance of uncovering these irregularities through judicial and technical inquiries. The focus extended beyond the damages suffered by Medigadda and other barrages to the broader issues surrounding the project’s execution.
Navigating Project Shifts: Scrutiny on Gravity Flow
Criticism was directed at the previous BRS Government for deviating from the original plan, opting for lifting water back at Tummidihatti instead of utilizing gravity flow till Yellampally barrage. The officials argued that even with reduced water availability at Tummidihatti, lifting at Medigadda should have been considered only after maximizing the usage of the available quantity there.
Engineering Oversight: Questioning Feasibility
The Ministers and legislators also held the engineers of the irrigation department accountable for conceding to decisions that were not practical. They questioned the approval of the third tmc ft water lifting component when the existing 2 tmc ft lifting per day component remained underutilized.
Addressing Concerns: Medigadda Barrage Contract and National Recognition
Regarding the reported refusal of the Medigadda barrage contract agency (L&T) to undertake remedial works at their own cost, Minister Uttam Reddy assured that the matter was under separate consideration and couldn’t be discussed openly at this juncture. He also placed blame on the previous BRS Government for not diligently pursuing national project status for Kaleshwaram.
In conclusion, Telangana’s irrigation landscape is undergoing a thorough evaluation, aiming for transparency, efficiency, and national recognition for its ambitious water projects.
