Rehab of 3 Kaleshwaram barrages to begin by Nov

Hyderabad: Works relating to the comprehensive rehabilitation of the three damaged Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme barrages—Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla—would commence by mid-November 2026 and be completed before the onset of monsoon in 2027, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy declared on Saturday.

The rehabilitation scheme for the barrages prepared by the project designer includes strengthening the foundations through grouting, extending the stilling basins, and constructing fresh cut-off walls. The proposed designs were undergoing validation through computational fluid dynamics modelling at the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, the Minister said. The state government would finalise the designs for restoring the safety and operational reliability of all three barrages, he added. “These interventions are intended to address deficiencies in the earlier energy-dissipation arrangements, foundation stability, and underside control”, Uttam said, while reviewing the rehabilitation proposals with senior Irrigation wing officials at his official camp office in Hyderabad.

Uttam made it clear that the rehabilitation strategy had been formulated after taking into account the concerns raised by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and other expert bodies regarding the safety of the barrages. “There will be no compromise on structural safety or the quality of rehabilitation. The designs would be presented to the Technical Oversight Committee under the Central Water Commission in New Delhi on October 5 for expert examination and recommendations, the Minister said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy directed Irrigation wing officials to complete all preparatory work simultaneously so that there would be no delay upon technical clearance.

The Irrigation and Command Area Development Department was preparing detailed cost estimates and finalising the contractual mechanism required for government approval. The execution framework would incorporate stringent quality-control procedures, independent testing, and clearly defined timelines. Senior officials would continuously monitor progress to ensure that the rehabilitation was completed before the next monsoon, the Minister said.

“The three barrages will be operated only after the rehabilitation works are completed and the requisite safety clearances are received from the national authorities,” the Minister observed.

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Patan Afzal Babu is an experienced journalist specializing in political and state Administration. With over 20 years of writing expertise, Afzal Babu contributes new content in the areas of politics and administration. Afzal has completed post-graduation from Hyderabad Central University (with a specialization in Journalism). Afzal Babu is an accomplished writer with a passion for writing political news and breaking news. With over 20 years of experience, Afzal honed skills in various genres, including major crime news. Afzal’s diverse family history and embracing cultures have enriched writing with unique perspectives.

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