A technical team consisting of engineering officials would be constituted to conduct inquiry into the submergence of pump house under Mahatma Gandhi Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation (MGKLI) project Stage – I.
Minister for Irrigation T. Harish Rao made the announcement after inspecting the project site and de-watering works of Stage –I under lift – I in Mahabubnagar on Monday.
After inspecting the site, the Minister reviewed with the project engineers and contracting agency the causes for the incident. Chief Engineer Khagender said that as per preliminary observation, the incident took place due to defective gate shutters that slowed down and non-submersible de-watering pumps.
Mr Harish Rao directed Patel Engineering Company, which is the contracting agency to expedite the de-watering works and take all steps to release water for the standing crops on war-footing. He directed the Chief Engineer to supervise the works and send daily situation report to the Minister’s email. The Minister said on receipt of the inquiry report, further action would be initiated against the erring persons. He directed Irrigation Department officials to take preventive measures to avoid repeat of such incidents. He informed that the standing crops of 25,000 acres under lift-1 of MGKLI project would be protected at any cost.
To another query, he said steps would be taken for power generation at Jurala hydroelectrical project, which was also submerged in flood waters last month. He pointed out that the Chief Minister was personally supervising the situation. The Minister later inspected the pump house and surge pool works at Jonnalagadda and Gudipally under Lift – 2 and 3.
Mahabubnagar MP Jithender Reddy, ZP chairman Bhaskar, MLAs Jupally Krishna Rao, Laxma Reddy, Marri Janardhanreddy, V. Srinivas Goud, Guvvala Balaraj, Ala Venkateshwar Reddy, engineer in-chief Muralidhar also were present.
