Latest news with #CentralDesignOrganisation
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Minister Uttam Kumar calls for reforms, tech upgrade to restore CDO's credibility in irrigation projects
HYDERABAD: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday directed officials to take steps to strengthen the Central Design Organisation (CDO) of the Irrigation department. The minister said that the credibility of the CDO was at stake after the sinking of piers of the Medigadda barrage, the observations made by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the PC Ghose Commission on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. Suggesting that a review be conducted and reforms initiated within the CDO, the minister assured full cooperation of the state government in that direction. During a review meeting he had with the Irrigation officials, Uttam said the CDO should be strengthened periodically. 'Latest technology should be used while designing the irrigation projects,' he told the CDO officials. Stating that the CDO once served as a role model for the entire country after having designed and constructed projects like Nizamsagar in the undivided Andhra Pradesh, he exhorted the engineers to restore the CDO to its past glory. Uttam also said that he would fill the vacant posts in the CDO. 'Those who graduated from prestigious institutions like IITs and NITs, and working in the Irrigation department would be posted in the CDO,' he said. The minister suggested that the CDO utilise the services of the retired engineers as well as the engineers who are working in IITH, JNTU and Genco. 'As electromechanical engineering assumes importance in construction of projects, those who have knowledge in that branch would be posted in the CDO,' he added. He asked the CDO engineers to complete preparation of designs of Nellikallu and Dindi irrigation schemes at the earliest.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Minister stresses need for strengthening CDO of Irrigation department
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy stressed the need for the urgent need to strengthen and equip the Central Design Organisation of the Irrigation department with latest facilities and software. He said there was need for recruitment of top engineering talent, acquisition of cutting edge technology and strict adherence to timelines for project designs. The CDO, once pride of the State, had a chequered history. From designing the Nizam Sagar project a century ago to providing technical expertise for major schemes, the design department enjoyed its reputation. 'That standard must be restored now,' he said. The Minister's comments assume significance in the light of adverse comments from the National Dam Safety Authority and the Judicial Commission headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose. Without going into the specifics, he said the remarks made it imperative to the government to review the organisation's functioning and initiate necessary reforms. The government could not allow the credibility of its own institution to erode and it was therefore decided to identify the gaps and fill them. Accordingly, it was resolved to fill all the vacancies in the CDO without delay with an aim to post talented and qualified engineers at all levels. There was need to assign engineers recruited from premier institutions like IITs and NITs to the organisation so as to bring fresh technical expertise and new approaches in designing. Recruiting alone was not sufficient and these engineers should be placed in position where they could have maximum impact as complex irrigation projects would require precision engineering. He instructed the officials concerned to procure latest state-of-the-art design software, modern equipment and advanced facilities on a war footing to ensure that the organisation delivered the best possible designs. Besides, domain experts whether serving or retired should be engaged as consultants on merit basis with focus on selectively appointing retired officers with proven expertise. Given the growing importance of electromechanical engineering, consultants with deep domain knowledge in the area should be engaged after thorough due diligence as this was a highly specialised area. 'We need experts who can foresee operational challenges and design accordingly,' he said.
Hans India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
KCR to appear before Ghose panel on June 5
Hyderabad: Former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao will appear before Justice PC Ghose Commission of inquiry probing the Kaleshwaram project issue on June 5. The commission is making arrangements in the office to record his statements as regards the damages at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages and alleged corruption in the construction of the multi-crore Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project. Rao informed his readiness to appear before the commission on Tuesday. Sources said that Justice Ghose will quiz the BRS chief for at least five hours on the first day. The questioning will continue for another two days. The panel will seek his clarifications on the recorded statements of irrigation officials, former secretaries of the irrigation department and retired officials, who were part of the engineering team during the construction of the project. Till date, the commission has grilled more than 50 irrigation officials, including the retired engineers-in-chief, who had executed the works pertaining to the Kaleshwaram lift scheme. Most of the irrigation officials admitted that KCR had finalised the designs of the three damaged barrages. Central Design Organisation officials from the department have submitted evidence to the panel on the project design changes, at the behest of KCR. KCR would be asked to come clear on mobilisation of advances, taking loans at exorbitant interest rates from central funding agencies and his role in the financial management of the entire project. His explanation on the findings in the NDSA final report and the Vigilance and Enforcement department report on Medigadda would also be recorded. The commission has already prepared 90 per cent of the report (nearly 400 pages) and the remaining part will be completed soon after KCR, then irrigation minister T Harish Rao and former finance minister Eatala Rajendar depose by July.
