Tungabhadra Reservoir Gates in Danger: The Tungabhadra Reservoir is like a lifeline for the drought-affected districts. The management of the TB Dam, which provides drinking and irrigation water, requires funds from both the Telugu states and the Karnataka government. Due to the state government not releasing its share of funds in the past five years, the dam’s management has faced difficulties. As a result, on August 10, heavy rains in Karnataka caused flooding, and Gate No. 19 was swept away by the current.
After the dam’s construction, the reservoir gates were supposed to function for only 45 years, but they have been operational for 60 years.
Dam experts, including Kannaiah Naidu, submitted reports during the previous Y.S.R. Congress government, stating that the gates had reached a dilapidated condition and needed immediate replacement. These recommendations were completely ignored by the TB Board officials and the previous government. The officials reported that replacing the 33 gates at the reservoir would cost 1.2 billion rupees, and they sought funds from both Karnataka and the Telugu states. Although Karnataka agreed to provide its share of funds, it has been reported that the file is still pending with senior officials in the water resources departments of the Telugu states.
If the states receiving drinking and irrigation water from the TB Dam release the funds, the board officials plan to remove the old gates and install new ones by March. Kannaiah Naidu has prepared the design for the new gates. It is said that the final improvements will be presented to the TB Board officials next week. After the gate broke, the TB Board officials faced numerous difficulties in setting up a stop-log gate to prevent water wastage.
On August 10, after Gate No. 19 of the TB Dam was swept away in the river, reservoir experts called in Kannaiah Naidu urgently to prevent water wastage. Engineers across the country warned that setting up a stop-log gate while the current was flowing was not possible. However, Kannaiah Naidu allayed everyone’s concerns by designing the stop-log gate within two days. The companies involved had to pay 2.5 crore rupees for this gate.
Concerns About the Condition of Dam Gates: The TB Board officials promised to pay Kannaiah 2.5 lakh rupees for providing skilled services. However, even after the installation of the gate, two months have passed, and the TB Board officials have not made payments to the companies or Kannaiah Naidu. The companies that manufactured the gate are pressuring Kannaiah regarding the payment of bills, while there are allegations that the Tungabhadra Dam officials have been negligent.
Currently, with the onset of the cyclone season, heavy rains are being reported in Karnataka, which are causing flooding in the TB Dam. There is widespread concern regarding the condition of the dam gates due to the rising floods. Farmer leaders are urging the board and the governments of the three states to be vigilant to prevent any further issues.
