Vijayawada: The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has agreed to take up repairs to the Srisailam project. The NDSA delegation headed by its chairman Atul Jain will visit the state for physical inspection of the project. The committee will arrive in Vijayawada on April 28 and meet the special chief secretary (water resources) G Sai Prasad and his team to take the feedback.
The team will leave for the Srisailam project on April 29 to make an assessment of damage to the plunge pool of Srisailam reservoir. As per the AP Reoganisation Act, Andhra Pradesh govt has been tasked with managing the Srisailam project, while Telangana has been assigned to take care of the Nagarjuna Sagar project.
In fact, the issue of Srisailam dam safety has become a debating issue at Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) meetings where Telangana has been complaining about AP’s alleged neglect to take up the repairs. Recently, Central Water Commission (CWC) has expressed its serious displeasure at the state govt for not taking up the repairs despite several reminders.
Keeping in view the state’s precarious financial situation, the state govt requested the Union Jal Shakti ministry to extend its support. Initially, the Pune based-Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) was assigned to look into the issue. A team from CWPRS made a field visit and submitted its report to the Jal Shakti ministry. Based on the recommendations of the CWPRS, the ministry has decided to depute NDSA to take the final call.
The plunge pool of Srisailam project was grossly damaged during the massive floods of 2009. Subsequently, the Dam Safety Authority headed by AP Pandya visited the project in 2020 and asked the state govt to take up immediate repairs.
The committee found massive damage to the extent of 120 metres depth, 400 metres length and 270 metres width. Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS) had also visited the project and asked the govt to take up immediate repairs.
The state govt proposed to take up the repairs with financial assistance from the World Bank. However, it got delayed due to regime change in the last election. Sources said that Union Jal Shakti ministry has agreed to take the cost of the repairs and asked the NDSA to go ahead with the work.
The team will leave for the Srisailam project on April 29 to make an assessment of damage to the plunge pool of Srisailam reservoir. As per the AP Reoganisation Act, Andhra Pradesh govt has been tasked with managing the Srisailam project, while Telangana has been assigned to take care of the Nagarjuna Sagar project.
In fact, the issue of Srisailam dam safety has become a debating issue at Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) meetings where Telangana has been complaining about AP’s alleged neglect to take up the repairs. Recently, Central Water Commission (CWC) has expressed its serious displeasure at the state govt for not taking up the repairs despite several reminders.
Keeping in view the state’s precarious financial situation, the state govt requested the Union Jal Shakti ministry to extend its support. Initially, the Pune based-Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) was assigned to look into the issue. A team from CWPRS made a field visit and submitted its report to the Jal Shakti ministry. Based on the recommendations of the CWPRS, the ministry has decided to depute NDSA to take the final call.
The plunge pool of Srisailam project was grossly damaged during the massive floods of 2009. Subsequently, the Dam Safety Authority headed by AP Pandya visited the project in 2020 and asked the state govt to take up immediate repairs.
The committee found massive damage to the extent of 120 metres depth, 400 metres length and 270 metres width. Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS) had also visited the project and asked the govt to take up immediate repairs.
The state govt proposed to take up the repairs with financial assistance from the World Bank. However, it got delayed due to regime change in the last election. Sources said that Union Jal Shakti ministry has agreed to take the cost of the repairs and asked the NDSA to go ahead with the work.
