Revanth Reddy sets December target for restoration of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages

Hyderabad: Despite concerns over delays in restoring the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages, the State government maintains that repair works will be carried out in accordance with the recommendations of Central government agencies and dam safety experts.

The government had earlier announced that restoration works would begin in mid-November. However, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has now directed officials to commence the works in December. He held a review meeting with Ministers and Irrigation Department officials on Thursday to discuss measures required to safely restore the three damaged barrages.

“Restoration works at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages should be carried out strictly in accordance with the recommendations of Central government agencies and dam safety experts,” Revanth Reddy told officials.

The Chief Minister specifically asked Ministers to counter the propaganda that water available at Medigadda was not being lifted. Irrigation Department engineers explained that lifting water from the barrage was not technically feasible under the prevailing conditions.

On the contrary, the Chief Minister said the government had lifted unprecedented quantities of water through the Devadula and Sitarama lift irrigation schemes to prevent water in the lower Godavari from going to waste. He claimed that this had helped provide irrigation and drinking water to command areas in Warangal, Nalgonda and Khammam districts.

During the previous government’s tenure, an average of 9.57 TMC of water was lifted annually through the Devadula project. This average increased to 18.13 TMC over the last three years. By October, 16.71 TMC of water had been lifted through Devadula and 8.10 TMC through the Sitarama project. Together, the two projects had put 24.81 TMC of Godavari water to effective use, the Chief Minister maintained.

Revanth Reddy directed officials to give the highest priority to the restoration works. He stressed that there should be no compromise on the safety of the barrages. “Secure final approvals for the restoration works by the end of this month, with the aim of commencing the work before the end of the year,” Revanth Reddy told officials.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that the government had conducted a comprehensive assessment of the condition of all three barrages. The investigations were completed with the assistance of national-level experts and technical institutions under the Central government.

They also said an expert committee constituted by the Central government had already given in-principle approval to the preliminary restoration plans.

Proposals for restoring the three barrages have been prepared at an estimated cost of around Rs 4,193 crore. The proposals envisage that construction companies will bear the cost of repairs related to structural defects, while the government will meet the expenses of additional works.