COLLISION OF BOATS WITH BARRAGE GATES

Minister for Water Resources, Nimmala Ramanaidu, has announced that an investigation is underway into an incident involving five sand boats colliding with the gates of the Prakasam Barrage. He has warned that the government will take strict legal action against those responsible for damaging the barrage.
Speaking at a press conference at the NTR District Collectorate in Vijayawada on Monday, Minister Ramanaidu stated that the State government is probing the possibility of sabotage in the incident. The boats involved reportedly belong to followers of leaders from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). The Minister noted that no precautionary measures were taken to properly anchor the boats, raising suspicions about foul play.
Minister Ramanaidu revealed that officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD) have complained to the police. “There are many doubts regarding a potential conspiracy behind the collision of the boats with the barrage gates,” he said. He assured that both the state government and the police were thoroughly investigating the matter, and the truth would soon come to light.
Highlighting the significance of the Prakasam Barrage, Ramanaidu expressed concern over the possible attempt to sabotage such a vital structure, which plays a crucial role in providing food grains to the people of the state. According to the Minister, three of the boats involved are owned by Ushadri and Komati Rammohan, the latter being a follower and relative of YSRCP MLC Talasila Raghuram.
Ramanaidu further alleged that former YSRCP MP Nandigam Suresh and others had formed a syndicate for dredging operations in the Krishna River. He pointed out that each of the boats involved in the incident was valued between ?40 lakh and ?50 lakh. However, neither the owners nor the operators had taken adequate precautions to secure the boats.
“Three boats were tied to each other merely with a plastic rope. We suspect a conspiracy behind these boats drifting and hitting the barrage gates,” he said. The Minister detailed how each boat, weighing 40 to 50 tonnes, drifted towards the barrage and struck gates 67, 69, and 70. The counterweight of gate 69 was broken by the impact, he added.
Fortunately, according to the Minister, the collision only damaged the counterweight and did not affect the main structure or the gates of the barrage. “It is unimaginable what could have happened had the boats struck the main structure,” he remarked. He also raised concerns about the fate of the five districts that rely on the Prakasam Barrage.
Of the five boats, one sank between the gates while three have been identified. Efforts are going on to locate the remaining boat, the Minister said. All the boats were painted in YSRCP colours, further fuelling suspicions of deliberate sabotage. Minister Ramanaidu emphasised that the police investigation would shed more light on the incident, and assured that strict action would be taken against those found responsible