1 week Ago By DC Correspondent
Hyderabad: Block 7 of the Medigadda barrage of Kaleshwaram scheme which suffered extensive damage in the forms of deep and large cracks, as well as its partial sinking into the Godavari river bed, cannot be repaired, the Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose commission of inquiry was informed on Friday. During-cross examination by Justice Ghose, when asked to express his view whether Block 7 can be repaired, Rajnish P. Chauhan, deputy general manager of L&T, said that in his view, the damaged block “cannot be recovered.
” It would have to be rebuilt, or some other structures, both on the upstream and downstream sides of the barrage, need to be arranged to allow storing of water at the barrage, he said. Chauhan added these “arrangements” would be required to ensure no pressure from the water, if stored, is transmitted to the “stressed structure.” Chauhan also informed the commission that remedial measures were found required soon after the 2019 floods when damage to the downstream protection measures were noticed and these were taken to the notice of the irrigation department.
He informed the commission that former irrigation engineer in chief (general) Prof Rama Raju whose expertise was sought on this matter by the government, had pointed back in 2022 that unless measures to repair the downstream flood protection structures were taken up urgently, the barrage would be damaged..
