Hyderabad: The State Irrigation Minister, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, announced that the government has asked the National Dam Safety Authority (NDS) to check the safety of the Medigadda barrage. They will use the authority’s report to decide what to do about the damaged piers. The government also plans to take legal action against those responsible for the barrage damage after looking at a vigilance report and getting legal advice.
During a press conference, the minister talked about the government’s efforts to tackle corruption in the Kaleshwaram project. He pointed out that the previous government had spent Rs 25,000 crore on Kaleshwaram without a Detailed Project Report. The lift irrigation scheme linked to the project cost Rs 95,000 crore but could only lift 160 TMC of water from the Godavari River. The project’s irrigation capacity is currently 6.50 lakh acres.
Uttam mentioned that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) is investigating the Medigadda barrage, where sunken piers have affected the structure. He criticized BRS leaders for causing trouble over the government’s decision to look into the barrage’s condition and alleged corruption in the Kaleshwaram project.
The Minister called for an apology from BRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao for spreading lies about the irrigation sector. He accused the opposition party of trying to avoid government actions related to mishandling the Kaleshwaram project. Uttam clarified that there is no water available at the Annaram pump house for lifting this farming season.
