Former Minister Raises Alarm Over Irrigation Project Operations in Telangana
In a significant development, former irrigation minister T Harish Rao has issued a stark warning regarding the operational practices of key irrigation projects across Telangana. He highlighted that the government is running major projects, including Kaleshwaram (specifically packages 6, 8, 10, 11, and 12), Devadula (phase III), and others, on frequent start-stop cycles. This mode of operation, he emphasized, directly contradicts fundamental engineering design principles and poses a severe risk to the infrastructure.
Engineering Concerns and Potential Damage
Harish Rao explained that such intermittent operation is likely to cause progressive damage to critical components of the irrigation systems. The pumps, impellers, shear pins, shafts, and associated electro-mechanical systems are all at risk. In a detailed letter addressed to the current irrigation minister, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, on Wednesday, he recalled that during the installation and commissioning phases, technical experts had explicitly informed the then BRS government. These experts stated that the systems were engineered for continuous operation, not for the erratic start-stop cycles currently being employed.
Repeated start-stop operations could ultimately lead to mechanical failure and a long-term deterioration of the infrastructure, Harish Rao cautioned. He stressed that these lift irrigation projects represent massive public investments and are designed as continuous flow systems. Any deviation from this design compromises the system's integrity, significantly increases the maintenance burden, and threatens the long-term sustainability of these vital assets.
Call for Scientifically Managed Operations
In his appeal, Harish Rao urged Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy to ensure that the operation of motors and pumping systems is managed scientifically. He called for strict adherence to the original design parameters and established engineering best practices to safeguard the projects. This move aims to prevent potential failures that could disrupt water supply and incur substantial repair costs, impacting agricultural and urban needs in the state.
The warning underscores ongoing concerns about infrastructure management in Telangana, highlighting the need for proactive measures to preserve these engineering marvels for future generations.
