VIJAYAWADA: Experts from the Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS) conducted a series of field tests on Monday to assess the quality and performance of the Earth-cum-Rock Fill (ECRF) dam being constructed as part of the Polavaram project.
The tests were aimed at determining the extent of water seepage through the portion of the ECRF constructed so far and assessing the strength and compactness of the soil.
The experts are examining whether the construction conforms to the prescribed quality standards, under which the ECRF is required to have adequate impermeability while maintaining the specified soil strength.
The CSMRS team comprised Siddharth P Hedavoo, Srihari T Nair and Amit Sen. They were provided with the required technical details by MEIL General Manager (Polavaram Project) A Gangadhar, Deputy General Managers Murali Pammi and Guttapati Shankaraiah, and officials of the Water Resources Department, including Executive Engineer D Srinivas and Deputy Executive Engineers Nirmala, Srinivas and Shekhar Babu.
The CSMRS experts conducted permeability tests to measure the rate of water flow through the ECRF and carried out field tests to assess soil strength. Samples were also collected from the site and tested at the laboratory located within the Polavaram project area.
Some of the samples will be taken to Delhi for further detailed examination at the CSMRS central laboratory. The scientists will analyse the samples in greater depth and prepare a final report on the quality and performance of the ECRF works. Officials concerned inspected the tests and reviewed the ongoing assessment by the CSMRS team.