Kaleshwaram Lapses: Recruitment to modern facilites, govt announces measures to revamp central designs organisation
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Hyderabad: After the Justice (Retd) PC Ghose Commission found fault with the Central Designs Organisation (CDO) of the irrigation department over its lapses in the construction of three barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has announced several measures to revamp and strengthen the CDO, including the recruitment of top engineering talent
During a review meeting with irrigation officials on Tuesday, Uttam said there was an urgent need to strengthen and equip the design department with the latest facilities and software.
He mentioned that the organisation, which has had a "chequered history," was once the pride of the state and the country.
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The minister said in recent years, the CDO's standing suffered due to adverse comments from the National Dam Safety Authority and the Ghose commission. "We cannot allow the credibility of this institution to erode. This review is about identifying gaps and filling them swiftly," he added.
He directed the officials to draft the most talented and qualified engineers from the irrigation department to be posted to the CDO at all levels.
"Engineers recently recruited from premier institutions like IITs and NITs should be assigned to the organisation, bringing in fresh technical expertise and new approaches to design," he added.
The minister also ordered the procurement of the state-of-the-art design software, modern equipment, and advanced facilities immediately.
During the meeting, design issues pending for several major irrigation projects, including the Nellikallu scheme, the Dindi project, and other such schemes, were discussed.
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Furthermore, Uttam said that the Congress govt was committed to reviving the CDO's legacy and restoring its reputation as a centre of excellence for irrigation project design. "The CDO was once regarded as one of the best in the country. With the right people, the right tools, and the right accountability, it will regain that status," he added.
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