Hyderabad: Central Water Commission (CWC) and National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) have informed Telangana high court that decisions on operating Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme’s barrages rest with State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) and state govt’s project authority, and not with them.
In March 2026, NDSA held a review meeting on the condition of all three barrages. In June 2026, a technical oversight committee was set up to guide rehabilitation work once state govt takes it up, with experts from CWC, Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) and Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS). In affidavits filed as per the court’s directions, the agencies denied allegations made by the petitioner that they had failed to discharge their statutory duties, resulting in hardship to farmers in obtaining water from Kaleshwaram project and its components, and urged high court not to pass any orders against them, while also seeking to dismiss the petition. However, this committee only advises on design and rehabilitation plans — construction, testing and quality checks remain entirely the project authority’s responsibility, the agencies informed the court.