Medigadda Barrage Structural Damage and Floodwater Release

structural damage and operational risk

Medigadda barrage in Telangana is receiving over 71,000 cusecs of floodwater but cannot safely impound it due to structural damage first documented in 2023. This forces Telangana to release massive volumes of water downstream toward Andhra Pradesh rather than store them, posing a risk to Bhadrachalam and upstream settlements. The barrage, part of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, was built to capture and store water but is currently functioning as a pass-through structure, benefiting Andhra Pradesh's Godavari delta districts. The project cost exceeds ₹1 lakh crore, but the barrage's structural issues have led to a political and engineering crisis.