Medigadda barrage

National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has recently concluded that the sinking of piers at the Medigadda barrage was caused by failures in its planning, design, quality control, operation, and maintenance.

• The Medigadda Barrage (Lakshmi Barrage) is the starting point of the Kaleshwaram Project.

About Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP):

• Kaleshwaram Project is a multi-purpose irrigation project built on the Godavari River at Kaleshwaram village, Telangana.
• Objective: To utilize Godavari water for drinking and irrigation.
• It is currently the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project.
• In lift irrigation, the water is not transported by natural gravity but has to be lifted through pumps.
• It is said to have the world’s largest underground pumping station (470 feet below the earth’s surface).
• It envisages the construction of 3 barrages between Yellampally and Medigadda.

What is a Barrage?

• A barrage is a type of low-head, diversion dam, that has a series of large gates that control the amount of water passing through.
• This allows the structure to regulate and stabilize river water elevation upstream for use in irrigation and other systems.
• The gates are set between flanking piers which are responsible for supporting the water load of the pool created.
• The term barrage is borrowed from the French word “barrer” meaning “to bar”.
• It is mostly built near the mouth of the river.
• They are given a safety rating depending on the type of dam, location, and the possible effects in case of failure.
  • The ratings are from 1 to 5, with five having the highest danger rating.
• Impact on Environment:
  • Dams affect the migration of fish, leading to less reproduction, thus impacting their population.
  • High water flow decreases the nutrient levels.