AP: Minister warns people after Tungabhadra Dam gate gets washed away

Kakinada: Water resources minister Nimmala Ramanaidu on Sunday asked people of four mandals – Kouthalam, Kosgi, Nandamuru and Mantralayam – to be alert after one gate of the Tungabhadra Dam got washed away. He asked people to protect themselves by cooperating with officials

Ramanaidu told reporters at Palakollu in West Godavari district that as soon as Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu received information about washing away of the gate, the CM alerted him, water resources officials and district collectors to take immediate steps for restoration of the gate.

The minister said following discussions with Karnataka state, where the TD dam is located, an engineering expert Kannayya Naidu, who played a key role in fitting gates at the Polavaram project, has been given the responsibility of restoring the gate at the Tungabhadra Dam.

TB dam has 33 gates, of which the 19^th gate sized 60 feet x 40 feet got washed away around 11 p.m. on Saturday. Due to this, 30,000 cusecs of water has started flowing downstream.

Ramanaidu said it is difficult to fit a 60 feet x 40 feet gate immediately. So, officials have decided to fit five 60 feet x 4 feet stop lock gates to control the flowing water. These gates will be put in place within two to three days.

He assured that there will be no shortage of water for agriculture, as the full reservoir level of Tungabhadra Dam is 1,633, but the flowing level is 1,585 cusecs.