KURNOOL: A Central Design Organization (CDO) team, led by Chief Engineer Vijayabhaskar, inspected the Srisailam dam on Monday to assess its structural safety and track progress on critical repair works.
The team focused on key areas, including the approach road, previously eroded hilly zones, and essential dam infrastructure like the plunge pool, gate operations, and water retention systems.
During the visit, dam authorities provided detailed updates on both ongoing and pending safety measures.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, Superintending Engineer (CDO) Shivakumar Reddy stated that the review was conducted in accordance with recommendations from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) to address structural design flaws.
1st phase of dam repairs estimated to cost Rs 200 cr
He added that construction of the approach road would commence soon. The CDO team confirmed that there is no immediate threat to the dam’s safety, though concerns persist regarding the plunge pool, a pit formed by erosion below the spillway apron.
Srisailam dam Superintendent Engineer Sriramachandra Murthy and other officials accompanied the CDO team during the inspection.
According to sources, the plunge pool, which lies at a depth of approximately 122 meters, compared to the apron’s 169 meters, has expanded beneath the dam’s deepest foundation block, located at 134 meters. Experts have cautioned that although the dam remains safe at present, urgent containment measures are necessary to prevent further erosion.
This erosion has been worsened by heavy water flows over the spillway, steadily enlarging the plunge pool.
The issue was first identified in the 1980s, prompting the installation of 62 steel cylinders filled with concrete between 1985 and 1987 to strengthen the foundation and ensure smooth crest gate operation. However, recent inspections revealed that 12 of these cylinders have been completely destroyed, while eight others are partially damaged, with none replaced so far. Experts have emphasized that installing new steel cylinders could help contain the plunge pool’s expansion and safeguard the spillway foundation.
Additionally, the surrounding hillsides are showing signs of slope failure, requiring stabilization through grouting and the construction of a road to the apron area. Despite multiple NDSA inspections in 2022 and 2024 recommending immediate action, progress on these critical repairs has been slow, mainly due to funding delays. A proposal to begin the first phase of repairs under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), estimated at Rs 200 crore, has not moved forward. Of the Rs 14.70 crore approved in 2024, only Rs 2 crore has been released so far, an amount insufficient to begin the necessary work, according to a departmental official.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has requested the NDSA Chairman to visit the site again, while Telangana has also raised concerns about the dam’s deteriorating safety condition.
Experts and officials continue to stress the urgent need for funding and the swift execution of essential safety measures to ensure the long-term stability of the Srisailam Dam, which remains a critical resource for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.