Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has elected ministers and irrigation officials after the 19th gate of Tungabhadra Dam in Karnataka state was washed away when the gates were being closed, on Saturday night at 11 PM. For the past few days, the reservoir has been experiencing heavy flooding. The chain link broke and the dam gate was washed away.
Officials said that 40,000 cubic meters of water is being wasted from that gate. There is already a heavy flood in the river. This is the first time in the last 70 years that such a major incident related to dam safety has taken place. Officials have asked the people of the river basin in Kurnool- Mahabubnagar districts to be alert as a total of one lakh cusecs of water is flowing in the river.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu took issue with Ministers Nimmala Ramanaidu and Payyavula Keshav. He directed Minister Keshav to talk to the officials of TB Dam and provide adequate cooperation on setting up a temporary gate. Keshav revealed that there were difficulties in setting up a temporary stop lock gate.
He said that due to the old design of TB Dam built in 1960, the stop lock gate could not be installed. Also, the CM talked to the Principal Secretary of the Irrigation Department and sought the details.
Minister Keshav said that as soon as the gate of Tungabhadra dam was washed away, the high officials of the state were alerted. Tungabhadra Dam is like the heart of Anantapur and Kurnool districts. Stating that lakhs of farmers have planted crops believing this, the authorities have requested to take immediate action so that the water does not go waste.
On the breaking of the 19th crust gate chain link of Tungabhadra Dam, Karnataka’s Koppal district in-charge minister Shivraj revealed that 35,000 cusecs of water is being released through the gate. He said that the repair of the gate is not possible at present.
He said that 65 TMC of water in the reservoir will have to be released and there is no alternative for the safety of the reservoir other than emptying about 65 TMC of water. At present, one lakh cusecs of water is being released from all the gates, he said. He said that unless 20 feet of water is emptied, the condition of the gate cannot be said.
