Kaleshwaram: When the Barrage Cracks, So Does Trust

🔹 NEWS DROP — PETAL 015
📅 May 6, 2025
🎯 GS Paper 2 & 3 | Governance, Infrastructure, Water Resources

🌀 Intro Whisper

A river tamed by ambition now rises in caution — Kaleshwaram teaches us that water lifted without wisdom may one day sink the very trust it floats upon.

🔍 Key Highlights

• Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), one of the world’s largest lift irrigation schemes, was launched to irrigate 1.8 million acres in northern Telangana by lifting water from the Godavari River.
• It includes three major barrages: Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla, meant for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial supply.
• The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has now flagged serious structural issues, especially with Medigadda, citing:
  • Sinking and cracking of piers
  • Sand piping, cavity formation
  • Poor design, missing safety checks, and non-compliance with geotechnical standards
• NDSA recommends decommissioning the damaged block and urgent rehabilitation.
• The project cost has surged from ₹82,000 crore to over ₹1.47 lakh crore, with ₹16,000 crore/year repayment pressure on Telangana.
• Political blame game erupts between the present government and former BRS regime, with accusations of mismanagement and political vendetta.
• Broader concerns raised about transparency, scientific due diligence, and the risks of megaproject overreach without environmental or financial accountability.

🧭 GS Paper Mapping

Current Affairs: Federal Accountability, Engineering Ethics

GS2: Governance – Public Infrastructure Oversight

GS3: Disaster Management – Dam Safety, Project Viability

GS1: Geography – Water Resource Management

Target IAS-26: Daily MCQs :

📌 Prelims Practice MCQs

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