Hyderabad: Stating that the state govt would not compromise on the safety of irrigation projects, Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said three barrages of Kaleshwaram project_Medigadda, Sundilla and Annaram would be operated only after rehabilitation works are completed and cleared by National Dam Safety Authority and the Central Water Commission (CWC).Addressing a new conference at Vijay Vihar near the Nagarjuna Sagar dam after reviewing irrigation works with senior engineers of the project, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the state govt’s priority was safety, sustainability and protection of public assets, not political optics.“These barrages will not be operated until every required rectification is completed. The rehabilitation plan will undergo stringent proof-checking by both the NDSA and the CWC before any decision is taken,” he asserted.The minister said the Kaleshwaram barrages were constructed with the public money of Rs 1.10 lakh crore and the govt has a responsibility to protect every rupee spent by the people of Telangana.He said that any irresponsible or premature operation of the barrages could have serious consequences. Around 40 villages, besides the temple town of Bhadrachalam and the famous shrine, could face risk if the structures were operated without completing the required repairs, he said.Uttam Kumar Reddy said the govt had adopted a scientific approach to rehabilitate the barrages. Fresh geotechnical investigations, non-destructive testing, ground penetrating radar surveys, drone-based studies and more than 100 boreholes had been undertaken to assess the condition of the structures.“The barrages were presently being maintained in an unloaded condition with all gates kept open, strictly following NDSA recommendations,” he said. The minister said international experts, the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) and the CWC were jointly examining the rehabilitation designs to ensure that every technical deficiency was rectified before the barrages were put back into service. He assured that all repair works would be taken up systematically and completed without compromising safety or engineering standards.Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Safety, Maintenance Top PriorityThe minister said the maintenance and safe operation of the Nagarjuna Sagar dam would remain the state govt’s priority. He directed irrigation officials to ensure timely maintenance, strengthen canal infrastructure and accelerate pending irrigation works. He asked the officials to immediately prepare estimates for all essential maintenance works and submit them for early administrative sanction.“Engineers have to identify canal stretches requiring lining and take up the works without delay, taking advantage of the delayed and weak monsoon. Officials should prepare proposals for covering open canals passing through urban areas to prevent garbage dumping and improve public hygiene,” he directed the engineers.Earlier in the day, Uttam Kumar Reddy inaugurated an export-oriented modern rice mill at Miryalaguda and said the govt would promote world-class rice processing units to strengthen Telangana’s rice exports and provide better returns to farmers.ends/
