The Justice Chandra Ghose Commission visited the Medigadda barrage on Tuesday to assess the damage caused by sinking piers last year. The Irrigation wing is working on implementing interim measures recommended by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) before the upcoming monsoon season. Ghose questioned irrigation officials about the quality of the barrage and the reasons for its damage.
The Commission requested details about the maintenance of the barrage during construction and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) after the inauguration of the Kaleshwaram project in 2018. Recommendations for interim measures at Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla were discussed during the visit. NDSA provided an interim report with measures to ensure irrigation in the Kaleshwaram ayacut during the monsoon.
Officials informed Ghose that measures would be taken for Block numbers 1 to 6 and Block No 8 at Medigadda before the monsoon season. They mentioned assessing the condition of various components of the barrage to avoid hydraulic forces on gates and the structure. NDSA recommended lifting all gates to fully open position before the monsoon and thoroughly checking components for integrity and carrying out necessary repairs.
“In order to avoid/minimize hydraulic forces on gates as well as structure, all gates shall be lifted to fully opened position before onset of monsoon. Before doing so, all the components of the radial gate such as skin plate, horizontal girders, arms, trunnion bracket, trunnion pin, bush, trunnion/yoke girder, anchorages, trunnion assembly alignments, seal assembly, side rollers, wall plate assembly, lifting arrangements, hoist bridge, wire rope, stoplogs, gantry crane etc., in respect of each gate shall thoroughly be checked for integrity of components and their joints with other components along with clearances, and commensurate remedial measures, as required, shall be carried out,” according to the NDSA interim report.
