CM directs officials to begin Kaleshwaram barrage restoration works in December

HYDERABAD Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to take up restoration of the damaged Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram project strictly in accordance with the recommendations of national-level experts and the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), with a target of commencing the works in December. At a review meeting here, the Chief Minister asked officials to secure the final approvals by the end of November.

He also asked Ministers to counter the misleading propaganda that water available at Medigadda. For water lifted from Medigadda to reach the Yellampalli reservoir, the gates of Annaram and Sundilla barrages would have to be closed. However, the NDSA had advised that the gates of these two barrages, which have structural defects, should remain open.

On the utilisation of Godavari waters through alternative arrangements, Mr. Revanth Reddy said the government had lifted water on an unprecedented scale through the Devadula and Sitarama lift irrigation schemes to prevent the downstream Godavari water from going waste.