The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Security for Nagarjunsagar to be tightened

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Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Security for Nagarjunsagar to be tightened

Special Correspondent

Move follows alert sounded by Union Government on terrorist threat to the dam

Strength of police personnel deployed on dam and around it to be doubled
Security plans also being prepared for Srisailam, other major projects like Sriramsagar

HYDERABAD: Security will be stepped up for the Nagarjunasagar dam across the Krishna in the light of the alert sounded by the Union Government that terrorists may target it.

As part of a plan prepared by irrigation engineers in liaison with the police, the strength of police personnel deployed on the dam and around it will be doubled from the present 70 and CCTVs installed at vantage points.

The entry to the top of the dam, the world’s biggest masonary dam, will be restricted to irrigation engineers.

The plan, submitted to the government sometime ago, is likely to get clearance anytime now, sources told this correspondent.

Similar safety and security plans are being prepared for Srisailam and other major projects like Sriramsagar, the sources added.

Centre’s order

This followed an order issued by the Centre based on some intelligence inputs, asking the State government to take all the necessary steps to provide proper security to major dams of national importance.

The Union Government quoted intelligence reports that terrorists might target these projects too.

Repairs

Meanwhile, irrigation authorities have identified some portions of Nagarjunasagar dam, which suffered damage due to wear and tear over five decades, for immediate rectification and rehabilitation under a Rs 115-crore separate package of the World Bank-aided Rs 4,444-crore project taken up to modernise its canal system.

Other works

The identified portions included slope of the dam on downstream side which suffered scouring and the gates of the diversion tunnel that may need replacement.

Installation of stop-log gates to meet emergencies when any of the existing 26 crest-gates go out of order, updating of instrumentation to measure the stress, deflection and other parameters of the dam to ascertain its safety and construction of a road at the foot of the dam to facilitate periodic inspections of the lower portion of the dam by engineers are other works contemplated under the plan prepared by engineers.

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