The government has clarified that the cost of testing and repairs will be recovered from the original contractors, reinforcing its stance on accountability and financial responsibility.
Published Nov 13, 2025 | 4:28 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 13, 2025 | 4:28 PM
File photo of the Kaleshwaram project. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The Telangana government has launched a scientific rehabilitation programme for the damaged Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram project, in collaboration with the Central Water Commission and the Central Water and Power Research Station. The State has issued requests for proposals to qualified engineering firms, is placing independent technical scrutiny at the centre of all restoration work, and has pledged to recover testing and repair costs from the original contractors to ensure accountability.
The Telangana government is undertaking a scientific rehabilitation plan to restore the damaged Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.
The initiative, taken up in collaboration with the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) in Pune, follows the collapse of a section of the Medigadda barrage in 2023 and the subsequent discovery of leakages in the Annaram and Sundilla structures.
These incidents raised fundamental questions about the project’s design and quality control.
Subsequent investigations by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), the Vigilance Department and a judicial commission flagged design errors, inadequate model studies and procedural lapses during construction and maintenance.
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, at a review meeting on Wednesday, 12 November, said detailed geophysical and hydraulic studies will be conducted by CWPRS once floodwaters recede, within 15 to 20 days.
“We have opted for a fully scientific and independent approach. The CWC will guide and vet every stage, from the design phase to the actual execution of rehabilitation works,” he added.
The CWC has advised that all restoration designs be prepared by qualified consultants and vetted before implementation.
In line with this, the government has issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to reputed engineering firms, prioritising those that have formal collaborations with premier national institutions such as the IITs. Five firms have been shortlisted, and three will be finalised after detailed technical and financial evaluation.
The government has clarified that the cost of testing and repairs will be recovered from the original contractors, reinforcing its stance on accountability and financial responsibility.
“The lessons from Kaleshwaram underline the need for an engineering ecosystem that is both autonomous and accountable,” Minister Uttam said. “We are building safeguards to ensure that such large-scale lapses will never recur.”
This multi-agency model, integrating state and central expertise, marks a shift from earlier practices that often relied heavily on in-house approvals without external scrutiny.
By institutionalising third-party verification, Telangana seeks to align with national dam safety and quality assurance standards.
Officials said that the Kaleshwaram rehabilitation programme involves a policy realignment within Telangana’s irrigation sector, giving priority to science over speed and accountability over symbolism.
Reiterating the Congress government’s commitment to transparent and responsible governance, Minister Uttam said:
“Every irrigation work involves massive public resources. We will ensure that engineering standards are upheld, responsibilities fixed, and outcomes monitored. Our priority is to restore the barrages responsibly and safeguard the investment already made.”
The official sources also claim that the government’s decision to involve independent technical agencies and recover costs from errant contractors is a sincere attempt to re-establish public trust in large-scale water infrastructure projects.
By placing the CWC and CWPRS at the helm of technical assessment, the government is trying to ensure that the next phase of Kaleshwaram’s life cycle is built on verified data and engineering precision, the official sources said.
While Kaleshwaram dominated the review meeting, the Minister also considered a wider agenda to expedite ongoing irrigation and water resource projects.
He reviewed investment clearances for key schemes including Sammakka Sarakka, Seethamma Sagar, Sitarama Sagar, Modikunta Vagu, Chanaka-Korata and Chinna Kaleshwaram, with instructions to secure early clearances before the CWC’s Technical Advisory Committee.
The review also covered pending matters before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II (KWDT II), progress of the Dr BR Ambedkar Pranahita-Chevella Sujala Sravanti Project at Tummidihetti, and national guidelines on desiltation and desedimentation, particularly concerning the Lower Maniar and Kadam dams.
Updates were also sought on the J Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme, Heliborne Aerial Magnetic Surveys for the Srisailam Left Bank Canal Tunnel, and the lining works on the Singur canal.
The Minister further reviewed the progress of the Dindi Project and construction of an alternative bridge at Jurala, besides examining the department’s ongoing engagement in legal and environmental compliance matters, including cases before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
