Congress seeks Centre’s technical guidance on Kaleshwaram barrages despite NDSA stand

Despite the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) making it clear that the decision on pumping water from the , Annaram and Sundilla barrages rested with the State government, the Congress government has decided to seek technical guidance on the future operation of the three barrages. Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday directed officials to immediately write to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and

the NDSA seeking technical advice.

At a review meeting with senior irrigation officials, the Minister reiterated that the Telangana government had been maintaining the barrages in free-flow condition in accordance with the NDSA’s recommendations to address safety concerns.

“Written advice from a competent technical authority would be mandatory before deciding whether storage and pumping operations could be resumed safely,” he stressed.

Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to enclose relevant portions of the NDSA report, earlier technical observations and supporting documents



with the communication to ensure the technical basis for the government’s decision was placed on official record.

The State government has maintained this position even as Telangana faces deficit rainfall and farmers continue to grapple with acute water shortage for irrigation.

The review meeting also examined the possibility of pumping operations during the current monsoon. Officials explained that downstream water flow alone did not make pumping technically feasible, as adequate upstream water levels could not be maintained under the present conditions.

They cautioned that temporary interventions and pumping without meeting the required hydraulic conditions could be ineffective and might worsen the existing structural concerns beneath the barrages.

“No operational decision will be taken based on political pressure or visual assessment. Every decision would be guided by sound engineering evidence and the recommendations of competent technical authorities,” Uttam Kumar said.