Medigadda barrage ‘most unsafe’ in India, Centre tells Lok Sabha; urgent repairs flagged
HYDERABAD: The Medigadda barrage, a key component of Telangana’s flagship Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, has been classified as the most unsafe irrigation project in the country by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), the Centre informed the Lok Sabha.
Highest risk classification after 2025 inspections
Following post-monsoon inspections of 1,681 specified dams across India in 2025, the NDSA placed Medigadda in Category I the highest risk classification warning that unresolved deficiencies could potentially lead to failure, Union minister of state for jal shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said in a written reply.
Reconstruction of damaged block recommended
The authority has recommended complete removal and reconstruction of block 7 of the Medigadda barrage, where some piers sank in October 2023, along with additional remedial measures. Similar safety interventions have also been advised for the Sundilla and Annaram barrages. The Telangana government is in the process of finalising a consultant to prepare the required designs.
Disclosure in response to MPs’ query
The assessment was disclosed in response to questions raised by Telugu Desam Party MPs G Lakshminarayana and Byreddy Shabari on the safety of dams older than 50 years.
The Medigadda barrage, designed to irrigate vast tracts of Telangana, has been under intense scrutiny since October 2023, triggering political controversy, technical investigations and multiple safety audits. Explaining the classification, the minister said Category I dams suffer from serious deficiencies that demand urgent intervention.
Apart from Medigadda, the lower Khajuri dam in Uttar Pradesh and the Bokaro barrage in Jharkhand have also been placed in the highest risk category.
