custom-ads

“Negligence, arrogance, greed, incompetence”: Uttam slams BRS on Medigadda Barrage collapse

On Telangana’s request, the NDSA formed a committee led by J Chandrashekhar Iyer on 2 March, 2024, to inspect the design and construction of key Kaleshwaram project barrages

Saicharan Sana

Published Apr 29, 2025 | 9:18 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 29, 2025 | 9:18 PM

Uttam Kumar Reddy on the Medigadda Barrage NDSA report

Uttam Kumar Reddy on the Medigadda Barrage NDSA report

Synopsis: At a Telangana Secretariat briefing, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy condemned the previous BRS government for alleged “negligence and greed” in the Medigadda Barrage collapse. Citing the NDSA report and structural damage visuals, he also flagged distress at Annaram and Sundilla barrages. Reddy criticized bypassing DPR clearance and urged reforms, including reviving the long-ignored Telangana Engineering Research Lab.

At a press conference at the Telangana Secretariat, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy pulled no punches as he tore into the previous BRS government over the Medigadda Barrage debacle. Armed with visuals and findings from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) report, Reddy accused the former regime of “negligence, arrogance, greed, and incompetence”—laying the blame squarely at their feet.

“They didn’t spend a rupee from their pockets. This was public money, and look at what they’ve done with it,” he said, pointing to images of cracked piers and structural damage. Reddy revealed that not only Medigadda, but also the Annaram and Sundilla barrages were showing signs of distress.

He slammed the BRS for rushing into construction even before securing DPR clearance from the Central Water Commission, calling it both irresponsible and shameful. Stressing the need for systemic reform, he urged immediate strengthening of the Telangana Engineering Research Lab, which he said had been neglected for a decade.

‘Negligence, arrogance, greed, and incompetence’

“It is clear the project began, completed, and fell all during the BRS regime,” Uttam Kumar began his presentation. “However, the BRS is raising eyebrows about the committee. I believe that these world-renowned experts are better qualified to talk about the issue,” he said, explaining the merits of the committee.

“See how their greed, negligence, arrogance, and incompetence have affected the project,” he said, displaying images. He further highlighted the various issues raised in the report regarding quality control, soil testing, and operation and maintenance failures. He stated that Annaram and Sundilla were also facing similar issues.

“How shameful is it that they began the construction and then gave the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the CWC?” he asked. He also referred to the retired engineers who raised the same concerns regarding the project much earlier.

“They not only made changes from what was proposed in the DPR, they also constructed it at different places,” he reported. He also spoke about the non-compliance with the CDO’s designs.

“They haven’t used money from their pockets, they’ve used our public money to construct this project,” he loathed

Uttam Kumar also stressed the need to strengthen the Telangana Engineering Research Lab (TSERL). “These engineers often had training earlier. However, they have been neglected in the last 10 years,” he reported.

Also Read: NDSA report on Medigadda barrage 

Visuals of the damage at Medigadda Barrage

Visuals of the damage at Medigadda Barrage

What the NDSA report says

Following a request from the Telangana government on 13 February 2024, the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) constituted a committee under Shri J. Chandrashekhar Iyer via office order dated 2nd March 2024. The committee’s mandate was to conduct a thorough inspection and study of the designs and construction of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, central to the Kaleshwaram project, facilitating the sequential lifting of water.

Administrative approval for the three barrages was accorded in March 2016. Construction contract agreements commenced between 15th July 2016 and 26th August 2016 with a planned 24-month completion period. The barrages were put into operation in 2019.

Site inspections conducted by the committee in March 2024, highlighted significant structural distress across all three barrages. Medigadda barrage, specifically Block-7, suffered severe settlement and cracking of piers due to the formation of large cavities underneath the raft from piping action. 

This failure is primarily attributed to a lack of quality control measures during the construction of the secant pile cutoffs to ensure water-tightness. Annaram and Sundilla barrages exhibited similar patterns of seepage/piping distress. Their secant pile cutoffs showed vulnerabilities due to inherent weaknesses of the piles, their rigid connection to the raft, and issues with construction quality.

Key problems identified include inadequate geotechnical investigations for design and construction, flaws in hydraulic and structural design (such as inadequate energy dissipation mechanisms), significant deviations in project parameters during construction, and poor operation and maintenance, including delays in repairs and non-compliance with the Dam Safety Act, 2021. 

Interim measures recommended for implementation before the Monsoon of 2024 largely helped in the safe passage of floods. However, the execution of critical investigations lacked pace and urgency, with premature grouting hindering the evaluation of original conditions. 

The report concludes by recommending a holistic rehabilitation design, immediate stabilisation measures, and comprehensive follow-up studies, including detailed geotechnical and hydraulic studies.

BRS responds

The BRS, meanwhile, highlighted the timing. In their counter presentation, they noted that the preliminary report was discussed before the parliament elections and the final report after the BRS’s 25th anniversary.

The presentation also stressed that the issue occurred in only one block. “Only in the 7th block out of 8 blocks in Medigadda, only one pier collapsed,” the presentation read.

Furthermore, they said that the NDSA makes it clear that the Medigadda Barrage can be repaired. The claim that BRS washed off Lakhs of Crores of the people’s money is untrue.

They called upon the government to swiftly repair the project ahead of the peak summer.

(Edited by Ananya Rao)

Follow us