Hyderabad, Oct 1 (NationPress) The Telangana government has issued an Expression Of Interest (EOI) for the rehabilitation and restoration of the designs and drawings associated with the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages within the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.

The Irrigation and Command Area Development Department has called for EOI from reputable design agencies for the purpose of developing rehabilitation and restoration designs for these three barrages, following comprehensive investigations directed by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) committee.

Proposals for EOI must be submitted by October 15, as noted in a notification from the Chief Engineer of the Central Designs Organisation.

The NDSA committee, which conducted an extensive investigation after some piers of the Medigadda barrage sank in October 2023, issued its final report in April 2025, recommending that rehabilitation designs be prepared for all three barrages.

According to the report, “Based on findings from various studies, a robust rehabilitation plan must be formulated and executed. The Committee advises that the Irrigation Department collaborate with esteemed institutions and departments for these initiatives. Given the complex nature of the designs, it is preferable for the rehabilitation design to be examined by the Central Water Commission,” the report indicated.

The comprehensive report, consisting of 378 pages and 16 chapters, highlights in its 'Recommendations on the way forward' that concerns such as sand piping, cavity formation beneath the raft, construction defects, and design flaws noted in Block 7 of the Medigadda barrage could also pose risks to other blocks.

The report elaborates that issues like sand piping and construction deficiencies observed in Block 7 of the Medigadda barrage could potentially affect other sections as well.

The NDSA concluded that the upstream barrages, Annaram and Sundilla, which share similar design and construction issues, have shown signs of structural distress and damage, rendering them inoperative.

Recently, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy instructed department officials to promptly identify and select design consultants for the necessary repairs to these barrages.

The minister also remarked that the NDSA report serves as a direct indictment of the previous BRS government, revealing severe deficiencies in its design, construction, and maintenance practices.

The minister accused the former BRS government of jeopardizing Telangana’s future by incurring over Rs. 1 lakh crore in high-interest debt to develop a project that ultimately failed during its administration.

The P.C. Ghose Commission, tasked with investigating alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project, submitted its findings to the state government on July 31, 2025.

This commission, led by a former Supreme Court judge, was established on March 14, 2024 to examine the irregularities related to the planning, design, construction, quality control, operation, and maintenance of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, which were constructed during the previous BRS government’s tenure.

Following an extensive debate on the commission's report in the Assembly on August 31, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced that the case concerning the project's irregularities will be referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation.