The National Dam Safety Authority is of the view that taking up repairs on the Block-7 is not possible and instead reconstructing it would be a safe and viable option.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRAGEMENT
HYDERABAD
The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has recommended removal and reconstruction of Block-7 of the Medigadda Barrage of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project following the sinking of some of the piers in the block and the structure developing huge cracks in October 2023.
In its final report on the damage suffered by the barrage along with the problems noticed in the two other barrages — Annaram and Sundilla — the national agency has reiterated that there were several deficiencies in all the three barrages of the project, including planning, design, construction, quality, operation and maintenance aspects, that led to the failure of the structures.
It has also pointed out that the construction of the three barrages was taken up when the detailed project report of KLIP was under appraisal of the Central Water Commission and other agencies.
The NDSA report has recommended a comprehensive re-examining of the design standards of the three barrages before taking up their restoration. Re-examining the designs was necessary from the point of view of the longevity of the barrages and their safety, it was observed in the report. The NDSA has forwarded its final report to the State government reportedly on Thursday.
The NDSA, according to sources in the Irrigation department, is of the view that taking up repairs on the Block-7 is not possible and instead reconstructing it would be a safe and viable option. The block is required to be dismantled completely so that the damage is limited only to it and the adjacent blocks could be strengthened before taking up reconstruction of the seventh one.
The report, according to officials, has pointed out that several changes were made in the basic issues of the structures during their construction without even taking up the necessary geo-technical investigation of the strata and the location of the barrages was also changed randomly without any study. Further, the report has blamed that not following quality norms and structural guidelines in the construction of secant piles has also led to sinking of piers.
It observed that the structural integrity was also compromised in the matter of upstream and downstream cut-off walls. It has also faulted the delay in the implementation of the interim report recommendations. Compromise in the structural and hydro-mechanical aspects has led to piping at several points both in the upstream and downstream of the structure.
The recommendation made in the interim report for comprehensive geo-physical investigations at all three barrage sites was also neglected, the report pointed out. The grouting work taken up by the Irrigation department has ruled out the possibility of detailed geo-technical investigation of the surface-level, raft, secant piles and cut-off walls’ conditions.
Published – April 25, 2025 08:11 PM is
