Hyderabad: Central Water Commission (CWC) and National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) have informed Telangana high court that decisions on operating Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme’s barrages rest with State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) and state govt’s project authority, and not with them.The agencies made the submissions in response to a writ petition filed by advocate Srirambhatla Sarath Kumar, who sought a direction for a comprehensive technical inspection of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages, along with Kannepally and Sundilla pump houses and other connected project components, and a report on whether any part of the project could be safely used on a restricted basis.In affidavits filed as per the court’s directions, the agencies denied allegations made by the petitioner that they had failed to discharge their statutory duties, resulting in hardship to farmers in obtaining water from Kaleshwaram project and its components, and urged high court not to pass any orders against them, while also seeking to dismiss the petition.NDSA further submitted that while Kaleshwaram Project is an important irrigation project for the state, the petitioner’s concerns regarding agricultural hardship were matters of policy falling within the domain of state govt.Explaining the steps already taken, NDSA said it had constituted a six-member committee in Oct 2023 soon after cracks and sinking of piers were noticed at Medigadda barrage. The committee inspected the site and, in Nov 2023, found that the damage was caused by shortcomings in planning, design, construction quality and operation and maintenance. It recommended that Medigadda be repaired before being used again, and that Annaram and Sundilla, built in similar fashion, be examined urgently too.A second committee, led by former CWC chairman J Chandrashekhar Iyer, was formed in March 2024 to study all the three barrages closely. It suggested, as an interim safety step, that gates in Block-7 of Medigadda be kept fully open before the monsoon to reduce pressure on the structure, and that badly damaged gates near pier number 20 be removed, if needed. Similar measures were advised for Annaram and Sundilla. This committee gave its final report in March 2025.In March 2026, NDSA held a review meeting on the condition of all three barrages. In June 2026, a technical oversight committee was set up to guide rehabilitation work once state govt takes it up, with experts from CWC, Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) and Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS). However, this committee only advises on design and rehabilitation plans — construction, testing and quality checks remain entirely the project authority’s responsibility, the agencies informed the court.
