The Union Jal Shakti ministry has established a technical expert group to oversee repairs at the Srisailam dam on the Krishna River, following concerns raised by the National Dam Safety Authority about structural damage. The panel will focus on rehabilitating the damaged plunge pool and apron to ensure safety. This action comes nearly nine months after initial warnings in May 2025.
The Srisailam dam, a 40-year-old structure spanning the Krishna River between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has faced significant safety issues due to years of damage. In May 2025, the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) submitted a detailed report to the state governments and the Union Jal Shakti ministry, highlighting critical problems after an on-site inspection on April 29 and 30, 2025, led by NDSA chairman Anil Jain.
The report identified severe erosion in the plunge pool, where water from the dam's gates impacts the rock bed. A large pit has formed, extending 220 metres downstream from the apron's end, with the pool's depth increasing from 122 metres to nearly 160 metres. The NDSA recommended replacing 39 protective cylinders in the plunge pool to prevent further erosion that could compromise the spillway's stability.
Initial damage traces back to unprecedented floods in October 2009, when the river saw 25.5 lakh cusecs of flow, exceeding the dam's design capacity of 19 lakh cusecs. This forced the full opening of all 12 radial gates, disturbing the plunge pool and enlarging the crater. More recent heavy inflows in July, August, and September 2025 exacerbated the issues, releasing over three lakh cusecs and destroying many cylinders, threatening the dam's foundation.
Additional concerns include high clogging in the foundation drainage system and seepage of 757 litres per minute in the gallery, which could induce uplift pressures. Despite these flags, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana authorities had not acted promptly on repairs.
Last week, the ministry formed the Technical Expert Group (TEG), headed by Central Water Commission chief engineer Vivek Tripathi. Members include experts from various directorates, the Central Soil and Materials Research Station, Central Water and Power Research Station, Geological Survey of India, and chief engineers from state irrigation departments and the Krishna River Management Board. The TEG's scope involves assessing the plunge pool's condition, reviewing global case studies, and recommending multidisciplinary rehabilitation measures.
The dam's management falls under Andhra Pradesh, but its importance to both states underscores the need for coordination.
