Telangana Accelerates Godavari Water Diversion Amid Kaleshwaram Structural Review
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy confirmed the activation of five pumps at Nandi Medaram to utilize natural Godavari inflows via the Yellampally reservoir. The administration is prioritizing historical Congress-era infrastructure while navigating repairs for damaged BRS-built barrages.
Key takeaways
- Five pumps at Nandi Medaram have been activated to divert natural Godavari flows from Yellampally to Mid Manair.
- The Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages remain under a strict no-storage order due to structural risks identified by the NDSA.
- IIT Bombay and AFRY India are currently finalizing rehabilitation designs to address foundation defects in Kaleshwaram infrastructure.
- Minister Reddy rejected BRS claims regarding water sources, citing that Yellampally was a project conceived during the Congress era.
Strategic Water Management and Infrastructure Priorities
The Telangana government has initiated operations to maximize Godavari river inflows following significant seasonal rains. During a high-level inspection of the Sriramsagar, Kaddam, and Yellampally projects on Saturday, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that five pumps at the Nandi Medaram pump house are now active. These units are drawing water from the Yellampally reservoir through gravity-fed systems to replenish Mid Manair via the Flood Flow Canal.
Minister Reddy clarified the technical distinction regarding current water sources, dismissing claims that the supply originated from the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. He emphasized that Sripada Yellampally was a legacy project initiated under the Congress-led Pranahita Chevella initiative. The current volumes represent natural Godavari flow rather than water lifted from the structurally compromised Medigadda, Annaram, or Sundilla barrages.
Rehabilitation Plans for Compromised Barrages
Addressing the ongoing crisis at the Kaleshwaram barrages, the government reiterated its adherence to directives from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC). Current safety protocols mandate a free-flow condition, prohibiting water storage until exhaustive investigations and repairs are finalized. The Minister highlighted that structural failures emerged in late 2023 at sites constructed between 2016 and 2019.
Technical oversight is currently managed by a Central Technical Oversight Committee established on June 30. Experts from IIT Bombay and AFRY India are developing rehabilitation designs, which include:
- Construction of a new diaphragm wall to secure foundations.
- Extension of the stilling basin for improved structural stability.
- Rectification of secant pile foundation defects that deviated from original project reports.
The government expects these designs to be ready within three months, with the goal of completing restoration before the next monsoon season.
Political Accountability and Project Legacy
The Minister criticized the previous BRS administration for spending ₹1.81 lakh crore on irrigation projects while failing to stabilize irrigation for at least 100,000 acres. He contrasted the recent structural issues of newer barrages with the longevity of foundational projects like the Sriramsagar Project (1963) and Kaddam (1959). According to Reddy, the Kannepalli pumps remain idle because their operation requires storage in the Annaram and Sundilla reservoirs, both of which are currently unfit for use due to ongoing safety probes.
Source: The Hindu — National
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