A pier of the the Kaleshwaram barrage at Medigadda has sunk creating panic among the people. The barrage also serves as a road link between Telangana and Maharashtra. It was closed down for traffic after the officials found it sinking from the 15th pillar to the 20th pillar. The officials immediately opened all 56 gates of the barrage to let down the 10 tmc of water to prevent further damage to the barrage.
The officials from Hyderabad reached the project site. The state government also getting engineering experts from Tamil Nadu and other places in the country. The engineers are keeping a close tab on the developments at the barrage. Police were mobilised at the spot to prevent people from thronging the barrage.
L&T authorities have responsed on the Medigadda barrage issue. The authorities said since the construction of the barrage in 2019, it withstood floods in the last five flood seasons, including the recent 2023 flood season. The barrage experienced the highest recorded flood of 28.70 lakh cusecs against a design discharge of 28.25 lakh cusecs. The Barrage continued to operate safely & withstood even in unprecedented floods of July 2022.
L&T technical expert team is deputed to the project site to assess the abrupt cause of the damages along with the state government team. L&T authorities said they will take necessary action to rectify the damages on own upon technical assessment of the damages and way forward solution at the earliest possible time.
Meanwhile, leaders of various political leaders are making a beeline to politicise the issue and gain political mileage. However, police are restricting their entry and not allowing them onto the barrage.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao