In a collaborative effort, infrastructure giant L&T and the Telangana government are conducting a thorough investigation into an incident involving a few pillars of the Medigadda Barrage, situated 260 km away from Hyderabad, which experienced a slight sinking, raising concerns about the structure’s integrity.
Currently, officials are in the process of emptying the reservoir, which holds about 10 tmc of water, to safeguard against potential risks.
The reservoir, an integral component of the expansive Kaleshwaram project, boasts a total capacity of 16 tmc.
Local residents reported hearing a loud noise on Saturday night, and the authorities were alerted.The authorities have consequently suspended the movement on the bridge connecting Maharashtra and Telangana, with vehicles rerouted to alternative roads.
The opposition targeted chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, for the faulty design.
An engineering team posted at the site said they suspected it to be a sabotage as there was a loud sound seconds before the bridge sank.The Telangana government has lodged a police complaint to probe the conspiracy angle.
An FIR has been registered at Mahadevpur police station.
A spokesperson from L&T affirmed, “In 2019, we successfully constructed the 1.63-km long Lakshmi Barrage (Medigadda) featuring 86 piers for the State government.Over the past five flood seasons, including the recent one in 2023, the structure has stood resilient.”
The spokesperson went on to explain, “Following an incident noticed yesterday evening, wherein a section of the bridge at Block-7 of the Barrage displayed signs of sagging accompanied by a loud noise, our technical experts have been promptly dispatched to the project site in collaboration with State authorities.”
“L&T is committed to taking the requisite steps for rectification following a comprehensive technical assessment of the damages and a determination of the best way forward,” he added.
Providing further context, the spokesperson highlighted, “Last year, the barrage encountered an unprecedented flood with a recorded flow of 28.70 lakh cusecs, slightly exceeding the design discharge of 28.25 lakh cusecs.The design specifications were provided by the State authorities.Notably, the barrage remained operational and resilient even during the extraordinary floods of July 2022.”
Government sources have indicated that a thorough evaluation of the underlying cause for the damage will be conducted, subsequently enabling the formulation of an effective action plan for rectification.This process, however, necessitates the complete drainage of the reservoir, a task estimated to take approximately two days.Additionally, a team from the Dam Security Organisation of the Central Government will be on-site to assess the situation and offer recommendations for rectification.
In response to the situation, local authorities have temporarily closed the barrage to traffic and are advising commuters to seek alternative routes.
