Update: Kaleshwaram Project

Focus of contractors, executing packages 6, 7 and 8 of Kaleshwaram irrigation project, is now on ensuring the workers at the project site do not get exhausted due to extreme heat conditions.The June-end deadline is fast approaching for the completion of work related to making pumping of water to Sriramsagar Project functional, and work agencies have been on their toes with seamless work progressing in three shifts.

According to the project engineers, about 40,000 workers engaged in key components of the project are being served buttermilk thrice and ORS (oral rehydration salts) drink once every shift at the work sites to overcome the heat and exhaustion. First-aid teams are also on stand-by at all the work sites to attend to any exigencies.Three ice-making units are also working at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrage sites to provide ice blocks not only for the curing purpose, but also to maintain cold chain for drinking water and buttermilk, the project officials said.

After achieving 20,447 cubic meters of cement-concrete work in the major components of three barrages, their pump houses and packages 6 to 8 of Kaleshwaram Project in one day (24 hours) on April 14-15, the project authorities have set their sights on creating ‘world record’ with execution of over 21,600 cubic meters of cement-concrete work in one day.“We are working towards achieving the goal of completing work required for lifting One tmc ft of water every day from Medigadda to Yellampally by June-end for supplementing the same quantity to Sriramsagar Project as part of its rejuvenation scheme”, Kaleshwaram Project Chief Engineer B. Hariram said adding that setting the new record in the coming weeks was not beyond their reach.

He explained that there were instances of doing work up to 10,000 cubic meters to 15,000 cubic meters every day in the construction of thermal and atomic energy projects as they require single core structures without any patch. However, achieving such quantum of work in irrigation or other infrastructure projects was unheard of, he noted.Quoting the executives of L&T executing Medigadda Barrage work, the Kaleshwaram authorities stated that achieving 7,139 cubic meters cement-concrete work on April 14-15 itself was the highest work turnout ever achieved by them at any single site. On April 21-22, they have achieved 7,212 cubic meters of work.

Irrigation officials stated they had come across the achievement of 21,589 cubic meters of cement-concrete work in a housing project in Dubai with 72 hours continuous work and the L&T has missed it narrowly at Medigadda as they achieved 20,291 cubic meters works on three consecutive days – 6,628 cu.m, 6,451 cu.m, and 7,212 cu.m from April 19-22.