Tungabhadra Dam Gates Closed; Temporary Gate Installation Progresses

Hosapete: The remaining gates of the Tungabhadra Dam have been closed following the progress in installing a temporary gate at the location of the washed-away Spillway Gate No 19.

The first plate of the temporary gate was installed on Friday night, and work on installing the remaining four plates continued on Saturday under the supervision of gate works expert Kannayya Naidu.

Naidu informed reporters that the work of installing elements would be completed by Monday.

With the present inflow, once all the elements are installed, the dam can hold 90 TMC feet of water. This (temporary gate) will effectively manage the water until the crest gates are ready.

"Our efforts will ensure water availability for both drinking purposes and the Kharif crop," Naidu assured.

He acknowledged the challenges faced during the installation, noting the crucial assistance from the Chief Minister's office.

"We have successfully installed elements in rapidly flowing water, preventing 30 TMC feet of water from being released to the river. By Monday, the entire process will be completed. Farmers will have water for their crops and drinking needs. After further rain in the coming days, we will be able to store 105 TMC feet of water in the dam. There will be water for crops and drinking needs,” Naidu assured.

While sources say that all the elements have been placed on Saturday, an official statement is yet to confirm it.