Hyderabad: Exercised over the apparent lack of response from Andhra Pradesh over the urgent need for taking up repairs at the Srisailam dam on River Krishna, the Telangana irrigation department is learnt to have decided to urge the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) to instruct the AP government to take up repairs at the dam.A huge pit that formed in the plunge pool area just after the spillway after the 2009 floods, has been growing ever since as no steps were taken to fill the void. Experts from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) found that cracks in the rock under the plunge pool area were slowly spreading towards the dam’s foundations that could affect the dam’s stability. Also, the NDSA, after an inspection of the dam by its team in February 2024, said that “it is apparent that the bottom levels of the plunge pool are much below the deepest foundation grade of the dam. The deep scour has the tendency to induce retrogression towards the dam, causing potential danger of stability of the dam in sliding if left unattended.”Deccan Chronicle had reported on the safety issues at the Srisailam dam on February 13 in its report ‘TG urges AP for urgent repairs at Srisailam dam’.According to sources, Telangana is worried, that if left unattended, the void just next to the dam on its downstream side might impact the structural integrity, and even result in the dam eventually breaching. The effects of such a breach, if it does occur, would be catastrophic: It result in the sudden release of enormous amounts of water, with the potential to devastate large areas across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, causing not just a severe humanitarian crisis, but also extensive damage to power, irrigation infrastructure, and water supply systems in both states.“Further, the cascading impacts of a disaster at Srisailam dam could severely impact the safety of Nagarjunasagar dam, Pulichintala dam and also Prakasam barrage,” the sources said.Telangana is seeking the deputation of an expert team from the NDSA for a comprehensive assessment of the extent of damage in the plunge pool of the Srisailam dam and review its structural integrity, examine temporary remedial measures, including the filling of interlocking tetrapods in the plunge pool to enhance energy dissipation, and prevent further scouring in the upcoming rainy season this year.Once these steps are taken, the NDSA can recommend a coordinated action plan that addresses long-term rehabilitation strategies to safeguard the dam, the sources said.
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