Hyderabad: In a crucial move, the Congress govt on Wednesday invited expression of interest (EoI) for the rehabilitation and restoration of designs and drawings of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS). The irrigation and command area development department has called for empanelment of reputed design agencies for preparing rehabilitation and restoration designs based on investigations conducted under the directions of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) committee. According to a notification from the chief engineer of the Central Designs Organisation (CDO), proposals for EoI must be submitted before 3 pm on Oct 15. They should be sent in sealed covers, superscribing: “Expression of interest for rehabilitation, restoration design of Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages of Kaleshwaram project” to the CDO office. The proposal bids will be opened at 5 pm on the same day in the presence of the chief engineer. Further details are available on the department’s website.Though the opposition BRS and BJP have accused the Congress govt of neglecting the barrages, the EoI invitation on Wednesday is seen as a step to reaffirm the state’s commitment to restoring them, sources said. Piers of block 7 of the Medigadda barrage had suffered serious damage in Oct 2023, with seepage issues at Annaram and Sundilla also reported. The NDSA, which conducted an extensive probe after some piers of the Medigadda barrage sank in Oct 2023, had in its final report in April 2025 recommended preparation of rehabilitation designs for all three barrages. “Based on inferences drawn from various investigations and studies, a suitable rehabilitation plan must be designed and implemented. The committee recommends that the irrigation department engage reputed institutions and departments for these tasks. Given the design complexities, the rehabilitation design should preferably be reviewed by the Central Water Commission,” the report stated. Officials said the state govt is moving forward strategically to bring the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages back on stream. Top IITs and internationally renowned agencies are expected to participate in the EoI. Irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, at a review meeting with officials in Aug, had directed the department to prepare plans for the EoI. Uttam had also accused the previous BRS govt of mortgaging Telangana’s future by borrowing over Rs 1 lakh crore at high interest rates for a project that collapsed during its regime. The PC Ghose Commission, which probed alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project, submitted its report on July 31. A marathon debate was held in the state assembly on Aug 31, during which chief minister A Revanth Reddy announced that cases relating to project irregularities would be handed over to the CBI.
