Is there an Extremist's hand in the sinking of Medigadda barrage pillars?

It is almost four days since the pier numbers 19,20, and 21 of block No 7 on the left bank of Medigadda barrage sank with loud sound. Several doubts are now being raised on the reasons for the sinking of the piers.

The slabs and parapet wall on pier number 20 have sunk (Maharashtra side). This had invited lot of criticism from the opposition which the ruling party felt could cause serious embarrassment to the government on the eve of elections. But then even after four days, the officials are not able to explain why the piers sunk. Was it poor quality of works as is being alleged by the opposition or sabotage.

Even as the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has constituted a six-member committee to examine the reasons for the sinking of the piers of the 'Medigadda (Laxmi) barrage' of Kaleswaram project in Telangana, the Mahdevpur police on Tuesday booked a case under several sections of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (PDPP) after the irrigation department filed a complaint that sabotage could be the reason behind the sagging of several pillars of the barrage. The government suspects that unknown offenders may have damaged the project. All that the officials could conclude was the pier had suffered the damage but failed to pinpoint the reason for the damage.

A. Ravinkanth, Assistant Executive Engineer at Medigadda barrage, stated in his complaint that while on duty on October 21 at around 6.20 p.m., he heard a big sound on the barrage. He inspected the barrage along with the road bridge with Bidyuth Debnath, Foreman of L&T and found some damage at piers numbering 19, 20 and 21 of Block 7 on left bank and slabs and parapet wall resting on pier number 20 are disturbed and sunk (Maharashtra state) side.

Police registered FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 427 for mischief and Public Property (Prevention of Damage) Act section 3 was registered against unknown persons at Mahadevpur Police Station. They do not rule the possibility of role of Extremists. This raises a much more serious concern, the BJP and Congress leaders said on Tuesday.

However, several doubts are being raised which the technical teams need to answer, state BJP president G Kishan Reddy said.

After the incident, the government was trying to save the agency and put the blame onto Maoists. He took strong exception to the irrigation department’s escapism in the entire episode.

He said a thorough probe into the possible design fault was must. Experts say that if the foundation was anchored in sheet rock at the bottom of the riverbed, then there should be no impact if sand shifts due to the river’s flow, or sudden flood." The irrigation department suspects that the shifting of sand cannot be ruled out.

Now the issue is how long will the barrage he closed? Will it be able to hold any water, and can it serve the purpose for which it has been designed and constructed?

Congress leader T Jeevan Reddy said that unless the real cause of damage was identified, it appears that the barrage will be out of use.