Sources in the water resource department said that they would be required to empty the reservoir to 65 to 55 TMC to carry out repair work.
Published Aug 11, 2024 | 3:19 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 11, 2024 | 3:19 PM
Water flowing out of Pampa Sagar Dam.
A flood alert has been sounded downstream of Pampa Sagar dam on the Tungabhadra river in Koppal in Karnataka after the chain of the 19th crest gate broke, leading to the release of huge amounts of water.
Sources in the water resource department said that they would be required to empty the reservoir from the existing capacity of 105 TMC to 65 to 55 TMC to carry out repair work.
The water resource department has opened all the crest gates barring five to take up repair work on an urgent basis.
Chief Engineer of the Tungabhadra Irrigation Zone L Basavaraj visited the dam and said the 19th crest gate malfunctioned.
“The remaining gates have been opened, and water is being released. A team of experts from Bengaluru will arrive at the dam in the morning. There is no issue regarding the safety of the dam. The expert team will decide whether the work can be done with the existing water in the reservoir. Currently, 70,000 cusecs of water is being released,” he said.
Koppal district in-charge Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi who visited the dam said, “We may have to release at least 60 to 65 TMC water from the dam. The problem can be resolved only after 20 feet of water is released. Hence, there is an urgency to empty the dam.”
The Minister said the water resource department is bringing the design at the time of the dam construction.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who holds the water resource portfolio, has rushed to Koppal to take stock of the situation.
Shivakumar is scheduled to chair a meeting with the officials & engineers concerned.
Meanwhile, visitors have been restricted from entering the Tungabhadra Dam & elaborate security arrangements have been made.
As of now, there is no fear of flooding the downstream though the water flow has intensified. People have been warned not to venture near the river due to the heavy outflow of water from the dam.
The sources said the dam has faced a major problem in 70 years since its construction.
#Karnataka: One of the crest gates at the Tungabhadra dam has broken.
The Chief Engineer of the Tungabhadra Irrigation Zone, L. Basavaraj, has visited the dam.
He says the 19th crest gate has malfunctioned. The remaining gates have been opened, and water is being released. A… pic.twitter.com/c5j7F6t0Is
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) August 11, 2024
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) cautioned people living along the banks of the Krishna river to keep vigil, following the washing away of a Tungabhadra dam gate in Karnataka.
Due to the snapping of a chain link, APSDMA managing director R Kurmanadh said gate number 19 got washed away due to the intensity of floodwaters.
“Nearly 35,000 cusecs of floodwaters flowed and a total of 48,000 cusecs will be discharged downstream. People in Kurnool district’s Kosiri, Mantralayam, Nandavaram and Kouthalam should exercise caution,” he said in a press release.
Further, the managing director advised Krishna river riparian inhabitants to avoid crossing canals and streams.
(With PTI inputs)
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