Medigadda receives over 1 lakh cusecs, water flows downstream
HYDERABAD: More than 1 lakh cusecs of water is flowing into the Medigadda reservoir from the Pranahita, a tributary of the Godavari, which is part of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. With water visible as far as the eye can see, questions are being raised over why it cannot be lifted to the Sripada Yellampally reservoir and supplied to agricultural fields amid the prevailing drought.
A Velugu representative visited the Kaleshwaram barrages and pump houses and spoke to irrigation engineers to examine the issue.
The Sundilla, Annaram and Medigadda barrages are located in succession along the Godavari below the confluence area. The Medigadda barrage subsided during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government, while the Annaram and Sundilla barrages upstream of it also developed problems.
The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) directed that water should not be stored at the three barrages until repairs are completed. It also directed officials to keep the gates open and release incoming water downstream to protect the structures.
Following the directions, irrigation officials have kept the gates of all three barrages open.
Medigadda gets Pranahita flood while upstream barrages run dry
There is currently no significant flood in the Godavari, officials said, but more than 1 lakh cusecs of water is reaching Medigadda from the Pranahita. Since the water cannot be lifted, it is being released downstream, they said.
The situation is different at Sundilla and Annaram. The two barrages have little or no water, with sand deposits visible across their reservoirs. Their gates have also been kept open in accordance with the NDSA directions.
At Medigadda, however, Pranahita water is flowing into the Godavari in large quantities. Since all the gates are open, the water is passing downstream as it arrives.
Engineers point to pumping capacity and leakage concerns
According to the report, the system can lift up to 1.5 TMC of water a day. However, keeping the Annaram and Sundilla gates open in accordance with the NDSA directions has prevented the water from being stored and lifted towards Sripada Yellampally.
The report also points to seepage and leakage issues at the barrages. Engineers indicated that the gates have to remain open because of these structural concerns, resulting in Pranahita water flowing downstream without being utilised.
The copy notes that even with an inflow of around 1.15 lakh cusecs in the Godavari at the Medigadda area, water is being released downstream with the barrage gates kept open.
Kaleshwaram’s three barrages remain under repair restrictions
The three barrages Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla form part of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. The Telangana irrigation department says the scheme was designed to lift water through these three locations towards the Sripada Yellampally reservoir.
The present situation means that while substantial water is reaching Medigadda from the Pranahita, the barrage cannot be used for storage or lifting until the safety-related restrictions and repair requirements are addressed.
