The Telangana government has drawn up a massive ₹4,193 crore restoration plan to repair three damaged barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), namely Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has instructed officials to secure all necessary approvals by the end of November and commence restoration work in December.
The proposed expenditure has brought renewed attention to the financial burden of restoring the irrigation project, with taxpayers continuing to face the consequences of the barrage damage. During a review meeting attended by irrigation department officials and ministers, the Chief Minister stressed that every repair must comply with recommendations issued by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), central technical institutions and dam safety specialists.
Officials informed the meeting that preliminary restoration proposals had received in-principle approval from a central expert committee. Detailed technical assessments and investigations into the structural condition of all three barrages have also been completed.
Two-Phase Restoration Plan for Kaleshwaram Barrages
According to the proposed financial arrangement, construction companies responsible for the work will bear the expenses associated with correcting construction-related defects. However, the Telangana government will finance additional restoration, strengthening and protective measures.
Revanth Reddy instructed officials to organise the restoration programme into two phases. The first phase will focus on recovering the barrages' water utilisation capacity, while the second will concentrate on essential safety and protection measures.
He emphasised that coordination between government departments, central agencies and construction companies was necessary to avoid delays in the approval process and execution of the work.
Why Godavari Water Cannot Be Lifted at Medigadda
The review meeting also addressed criticism over the government's inability to lift Godavari water at Medigadda, with allegations that available water was being allowed to flow downstream without proper utilisation.
Irrigation engineers explained that transferring water from Medigadda towards Yellampalli requires the gates of the Annaram and Sundilla barrages to remain closed. However, the NDSA has recommended keeping these gates open due to identified structural deficiencies.
Officials clarified that these safety-related restrictions are preventing water lifting through the existing system. The Chief Minister asked ministers to explain the technical reasons behind the situation and respond to claims that the government was deliberately avoiding water utilisation.
Godavari Water Utilisation Rises by 89%
Revanth Reddy stated that his government was increasing Godavari water utilisation through alternative irrigation projects, particularly Devadula and Sitarama.
Figures presented during the meeting showed that Devadula lifted an annual average of 9.57 TMC during the previous government's tenure. Over the past three years, the average reportedly increased to 18.13 TMC, marking a rise of approximately 89%.
The Chief Minister further stated that 16.71 TMC had been lifted through Devadula up to October this year, while Sitarama accounted for another 8.10 TMC. Together, the two projects utilised 24.81 TMC of water.
According to him, this water supported agricultural irrigation and drinking water requirements in the erstwhile Warangal, Nalgonda and Khammam districts.
Revanth Reddy Criticises Previous Government
The Chief Minister blamed the previous government for mistakes that, according to him, resulted in the sinking of the Medigadda barrage. He maintained that the present administration must take responsibility for restoring the infrastructure and preventing similar problems in the future.
He also referred to the proposed Pranahita project, arguing that constructing a barrage at Tummidihatti could have provided a more economical route for supplying water to Yellampalli and improved the state's ability to deal with drought conditions.
Revanth Reddy additionally claimed that cultivated land had expanded under the Congress government and that Telangana had recorded its highest-ever paddy production.
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Irrigation Secretary Sridhar, Tunnels and Safety Secretary Colonel Parikshit Mehra, Joint Secretary Srinivas and other senior officials attended the review meeting.
The government has now prioritised obtaining the required clearances and beginning restoration in December. The ₹4,193 crore project will be closely watched as Telangana attempts to restore the damaged barrages while addressing long-standing questions over construction quality, infrastructure safety and public expenditure.
