Justice Ghose Commission visits Medigadda, government starts repair work on barrages

Hyderabad: Justice Chandra Ghose’s committee on the Kaleshwaram project on Tuesday visited the Medigadda barrage and took stock of the status of the barrage damaged due to the sinking of the piers last year. Meanwhile, the irrigation department has started an exercise to implement the interim measures recommended by the NDSA (National Dam Safety Authority) at damaged barrages before the onset of monsoon season this year. Officials said Ghose inquired about irrigation officials about the quality of the barrage and the reasons for the damage to the structure.

The Commission has asked the officials to provide the details of the barrage, mainly the quality maintenance during construction and operation and maintenance (O&M) of the project after the inauguration of the multi-crore Kaleshwaram project in 2018. Recommendation on interim measures in Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla were also discussed during the visit.

The officials told Ghose that the NDSA had submitted an interim report and recommended measures to resume the operation of the barrages in the monsoon to ensure irrigation facilities in the Kaleshwaram ayacut. Measures would be taken before the onset of monsoon for Block Numbers 1 to 6 and Block No. 8 in Medigadda. As part of this, the condition of the upstream and downstream secant pile and the condition of the upstream and downstream parametric connection would be assessed.

“To avoid/minimise hydraulic forces on both gates and structure, all gates should be lifted to a fully open position before the onset of monsoon. Before doing this, check all components of the radial gate, such as skin plate, horizontal beams, arms, trunnion bracket, trunnions, bushing, trunnion/yoke girder, anchorages, trunnion mounting alignments, seal assembly, side rollers, wall plate mounting, lifting arrangements, lifting bridge, steel cable, stop logs, gantry crane etc., relating to each port shall be thoroughly checked for integrity of the components and their connections to other components along with clearances and appropriate remedial action taken if necessary. out,” the NDSA said in the interim report.