Frequent rains during the last few weeks have slowed down the progress of Kaleshwaram project work, particularly on the three barrages at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla and their pump houses where excavation (earth work), pre-masonry, masonry and electro-mechanical work were on although they were not stalled completely.
The rains, however, have not affected the works in Packages 6 and 8, which also hold key for Sriramsagar rejuvenation plan by supplementing the water from Yellamapally to Sriramsagar reservoir through the existing flood flow canal. The State government has plans to supply water from Yellampally to Sriramsagar from June next.
“The excavation work at the three barrages of Kaleshwaram is about 14.5 lakh cubic metres, 10.5 lakh cubic metres and 10.75 lakh cubic metres, respectively. About 40% to 50% work has been completed so far at Annaram and Sundilla with about 30,000 to 35,000 cubic metres of work every month till August-end.
The progress of work at Medigadda was comparably less since the flow of the Godavari is heavy there as the location is after the confluence of Pranahitha river with it”, a senior project engineer said. They project implementation agencies, contractors, had plans to increase the quantum of work to about one-lakh cubic metres a month by mid-September. However, frequent rains have affected the pace of work to some extent and the target was not reached, officials of the Irrigation department admitted.
“Unlike the sub-surface work, carrying work on the surface during the rainy season is quite challenging since some risk is involved”, the officials said adding that sub-surface works are comparatively safer irrespective of a couple of accidents that occurred in the recent weeks.
“The Godavari has been flowing at about 95 metres (above mean sea level) or more for most part of this rainy season at Medigadda and executing work with such flow in the river course is very difficult”, the senior engineer who preferred not to be quoted said.
Asked how the water for Sriramsagar rejuvenation would be supplemented from June next with the slowdown of head work in the recent weeks, the officials said work would gather pace once the monsoon season is over.
“Besides, water can be drawn from Medigadda without even barrage if the water flow level in the river is at 92 metres or above and the work on the pump-houses is going on faster than the work on barrages and we are confident to complete them by Decebmer-end 2018”, the engineer said without quantifying the work done.
