Anantapur: Authorities at the Tungabhadra dam have set up a stop-lock system as a temporary gate in place of the Gate 19 which got washed away and a new one is currently being manufactured by a Hospet-based firm. The new gate, weighing approximately 40 tonnes, is expected to be installed by August 16 to prevent water wastage.
Chief engineer and irrigation expert Rathnakar informed Deccan Chronicle that the dam gates require an ultrasound scan to assess their lifespan and ensure future safety. He noted that the dam is now 71 years old, whereas the typical lifespan for such gates is around 45 years. Despite this, the gates have functioned reliably for an extended period.
Currently, over a lakh cubic feet of water per second is being discharged through eight gates, including 35,000 cubic feet per second from the 19th gate.
The temporary gate is being manufactured by a local industry in the Hospet Industrial Area. Tungabhadra dam secretary O.R. Reddy stated that efforts are being made to complete the installation by August 16, with all teams working diligently to manage the water flow effectively.
The authorities have issued alerts for low-lying areas along the Tungabhadra river, including Hampi, Kampli in Vijayanagar district, and parts of Raichur and Kurnool districts.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has advised farmers to be patient regarding water availability for the upcoming rabi season, as more than 60 tmc ft of water from the reservoir is expected to be released downstream. Despite these challenges, Tungabhadra dam authorities are optimistic about minimising water wastage.
