Kaleshwaram Restoration to Adhere Strictly to Expert Panel Recommendations, Says Telangana CM

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced on Saturday that restoration efforts at the Kaleshwaram project would proceed strictly in accordance with recommendations from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and oversight from a committee established by the Union Jal Shakti Ministry.

Speaking at a press conference held at Bodhi Pavilion in MCRHRD, Jubilee Hills, Revanth Reddy emphasized that the state government would hold back on resuming water storage or lifting operations until technical experts formally certify the barrages as safe for operation. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, along with Ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar, were present at the briefing.

The Union Jal Shakti Ministry constituted the Technical Oversight Committee on June 30, 2026, tasking it with examining the design and restoration requirements of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages. The committee comprises representatives from the NDSA, the Central Water Commission, the Central Water and Power Research Station, and the Telangana government. Before finalizing its recommendations, the panel plans to consult with both national and international experts.

The Chief Minister outlined the NDSA's findings, noting that the authority identified shortcomings across planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance phases. The NDSA's 365-page assessment specifically examined subsidence affecting piers in Block 7 at Medigadda, which compromised the structural integrity of the entire barrage. Based on these findings, the authority advised against storing water in the barrages under existing conditions and recommended comprehensive evaluation and rehabilitation of all three structures before they could safely store water again.

Revanth Reddy addressed technical constraints regarding water lifting operations. The Medigadda pumping station requires a water level of 93.5 metres to function, which necessitates storing at least five TMC (thousand million cubic feet) by closing the barrage gates before the Kannepalli pumps can begin water extraction. However, the NDSA cautioned against gate closure before repairs are completed, as the structures currently lack the capacity to safely resist hydraulic pressure. This technical reality, the Chief Minister stressed, prevents the government from lifting water from the Godavari at present.

Revanth Reddy dismissed suggestions that water could be lifted directly from the river without storage, characterizing such claims as misleading. He stated that the government had publicly explained the technical impediments to counter misinformation being circulated by certain political figures.

The Chief Minister referenced a May 2020 letter from an Executive Engineer to the construction agency that had flagged structural deficiencies before the project's completion. He also noted that floods damaged the Kannepalli Pump House in July 2022, and restoration work on this facility remains incomplete. An NDSA inspection following the Medigadda incident in October 2023 subsequently exposed design, planning, and quality issues spanning construction, operation, and maintenance.

Revanth Reddy indicated that ongoing testing procedures would conclude within the month, after which restoration work would commence. The government would implement recommendations from IIT Bombay, international specialists, and the Technical Oversight Committee. He reaffirmed Telangana's full cooperation with the NDSA and emphasized that public safety would remain the guiding principle throughout the Kaleshwaram restoration process, dismissing any suggestions of hidden agendas.