BRS, Congress spar over Kaleshwaram; KTR threatens to march with 50000 people to start pumps

Hyderabad: The Kaleshwaram project continues to remain a bone of contention between the ruling Congress and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana.

The repairs to the Medigadda barrage are being carried out by the government according to guidelines issued by the National Dam Safety Authority.

Can water be stored?

K T Rama Rao, BRS working president demanded that pumping must be started to fill the barrage filled. During a visit to the pumping station on Friday, KTR said, "If the pumping is not started by August 2, we along with 50,000 people will start the pumps."

Irrigation minister Capt. N Uttam Kumar has made it clear that the Congress government will follow the guidelines of NDSA and not BRS.

Uttam Kumar said, "KTR's statements are technically flawed. There is false propaganda being spread by BRS. The demand to start pumping at Kannepalli will release the water to Annaram barrage where all the dam gates are open as per the National Dam Safety Authority's (NDSA) instructions."

Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, which sustained huge damages during the BRS regime, were undergoing repairs as per the NDSA guidelines.

Damage to barrages

On May 1, 2024, the NDSA in a report highlighted several critical issues and recommended immediate measures to prevent further damage to the Kaleshwaram project's structures. Among the key recommendations were keeping all gates of the Medigadda Barrage in a free flow state to avoid additional structural damage, completing necessary repairs to prevent further deterioration, conducting comprehensive geophysical and geotechnical tests across the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, and removing the first four rows of downstream concrete blocks and properly compacting the riverbed. These measures were aimed at addressing immediate structural concerns while a more detailed investigation into long-term solutions continued, he said.

Why is it risky to store water?

Uttam Kumar Reddy said if water is stored at Medigadda, there is a risk of total collapse of the barrage. It might cause a huge loss of life and property. It will damage the Samaka Sarakka barrage, Sitharama project, and other structures along the route. It might fully inundate about 44 villages and even affect the Bhadrachalam town.

Therefore, the state government will follow the directions of NDSA, which is an expert body, and not KTR says Uttam Kumar.

The annual power bills for Kaleshwaram were projected at Rs 10,375 crore.

Kaleshwaram project had not only failed to deliver the promised benefits but had also become a financial burden on the state, said Uttam Kumar as the government is working on repairs to the dam.

"The Congress government has initiated a judicial inquiry into the alleged irregularities and embezzlement of funds related to the Kaleshwaram project. The inquiry led by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, aims to identify the root causes of the structural issues and hold those responsible accountable. The inquiry has involved visits to the project sites and consultations with stakeholders. Strict action will be taken against those guilty of embezzling and wasting public money," he said.