The authorities of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project have termed the submergence of two key pump houses in the flood waters of Godavari river on Thursday as a natural calamity caused by highest flood in the last 500 years, but have exuded confidence that they would be able bring back the facilities into operation in a month’s time after de-watering.
Engineer-in-Chief of Kaleshwaram N. Venkateshwarlu, who is associated with the project from pre-groundbreaking stage, said the flood in Godavari witnessed this time was beyond once-in-500 years phenomenon as the statistics available with the Central Water Commission (CWC) make it clear that there was no flood in the magnitude that was recorded on Thursday during the last 500 years.
“We have taken into consideration 107.5 meters of flood level into consideration against the highest flood level recorded at 106.7 meters at the site, as per the CWC records, while designing Medigadda Barrage. However, it went beyond 108 meters on Thursday-Friday breaking all records in the past,” he explained adding that the flood level in the river at Kaleshwaram, in the upstream of the barrage, was even higher.
