Hyderabad: With the NDSA (National Dam Safety Authority) Expert Committee initiating the probe
into the irregularities in the construction of Medigadda barrage and damage to Medigadda and
Annaram barrages, state irrigation officials are now on tenterhooks as the team, which has arrived
in Hyderabad on Wednesday, made it clear that they would be questioning the officials thoroughly
on the issue.
The team will be visiting the barrages on Thursday for on-the-spot study of the damage to the
barrages and will examine the quality of the construction. The allegations have been that the
construction was sub-standard.
The officials sought every little detail that was available with the officials pertaining to damage to
the piers, construction works and standards that were followed by the agencies that built the
projects. The NDSA committee is headed by former chairman of Central Water Commission J
Chandrasekhar.
The NDSA team on Wednesday held a meeting with Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and
officials of the Irrigation department. The NDSA committee responded to the request of the
government to give a preliminary report on the damage to the barrage and what temporary
measures need to be taken before the arrival of the monsoon.
Based on the interim report, the government will decide on the measures to be taken to repair the
barrages.
Officials at all levels have been directed to provide all documents and information asked by the
NDSA committee. Strict action against anyone who does not cooperate with the NDSA committee
and hides documents will be initiated. Most of the senior irrigation officials who were part of the
team worked for the construction of the Kaleshwaram lift scheme. Their active role in the
construction of the barrages will be ascertained and hold them responsible in case they failed to
discharge their duties sincerely, officials said.
According to Uttam Kumar Reddy, the committee will visit all the three damaged barrages and
would use the most advanced technology for conducting necessary tests so that it would become
easy to decide what kind of repairs need to be taken up to put the barrages back to use.
Accompanied with Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Rahul Bojja, Special Secretary Prashanth Patil, ENC
(Irrigation) Anil, and others officials, the Irrigation Minister also gave a detailed PowerPoint
Presentation to the Expert Committee on the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages.
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