Telangana: Government to set up expert panel on Medigadda

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday decided to constitute an expert committee on the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundhila barrages under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) to ascertain the structural stability and the reason for the sinking of the pillars.

The expert committee will include officials from the Central Water Commission, National Dam Safety Authority and State Irrigation Department.

The expert committee will give recommendations on actionable inputs to take further action regarding the damage caused to Medigadda.

The Chief Minister held a meeting with the Irrigation Department along with Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy at the Secretariat. He asked the officials to prepare a detailed report on village and mandal wise income tax of KLIS. He also inquired about the status of PRIS.

He directed the officials to allocate funds through green channel to complete some pending irrigation projects.

The CM advised the Irrigation Department not to take any decision in haste and not to repeat the ‘mistakes’ of the previous government which proved costly. He said the expert committee would decide whether the damaged Medigadda ghats should be repaired or rebuilt.

Revanth also directed officials to arrange an all-party meeting on Krishna waters and projects on it. He asked them to prepare a comprehensive report on the KRMB agenda, minutes of meetings and agreements. He asked why Telangana agreed to 299 tmcft as its share against Andhra Pradesh’s 512 tmcft. He asked for a report on the debate and discussion that took place before the agreement.

Revanth also discussed the report of handing over the projects on Krishna river to KRMB. Officials told the CM that no such agreement has been reached.

‘Don’t take decisions in haste’

The Chief Minister advised the Irrigation Department not to take any hasty decision and not to repeat the ‘mistakes’ of the previous government, which proved costly.