Anantapur: Lapses in maintenance of TB gates even after alert was sounded
ANANTAPUR: The AP government has cited lapses of the TB board authorities in maintaining the dam’s gates even after they received an alert. Normally, the gates are well-maintained every year and there exists a system of replacing any objects that are found damaged.
Stating this here on Sunday, Rayadurg MLA Kalava Srinivasulu, who visited the TB dam on behalf of state government, lamented that the Rayalaseema region would face another disaster even after the heavy floods in Krishna basin this year.
He cited the lapses of the TB board experts and said the team failed to properly maintain the gates and connecting mechanisms prior to the release of water. He sought a thorough probe over the lapses as the rain deficit parts of Rayalaseema and Karnataka had to suffer throughout the year.
Responding to allegations made by the MLA, the TB dam engineers stated that their teams were conducting maintenance works early in the season but had not checked the chains of the gates and this resulted in the deinking of the 19th gate.
“The state government is ready to support the engineers in restoring normalcy in the dam and would provide the necessary share of funds and technical assistance,” Kalava Srinvasulu told Deccan Chronicle.
Meanwhile, after a high-level meeting with the experts and engineering of TB dam, the board decided to fix four gates at a height of 5ft to cover the 19th gate of the dam. “After releasing water to reach a 1312ft height, four gates are planned to be fixed, one above the other, to cover a 20ft height, by way of an immediate step. Gates were ordered for delivery. It may take at least 3-4 days to start restoration works,” the dam sources said.
The TB high level main canal and low level canal authorities of AP were trying to draw maximum water towards AP, to fill all dependent reservoirs and summer storage tanks in Anantapur and Kurnool areas in Rayalaseema region. About 2400 cusecs of water is drawn from HLMC towards Anantapur borders.
