Replacement of damaged crest gate 19 of Tungabhadra Reservoir will be completed in a month, says Koppal MP

K. Rajashekhar Hitnal, Lok Sabha member from Koppal, addressing a media conference at his office in Koppal on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

K. Rajashekhar Hitnal, Lok Sabha member from Koppal, said that the work of replacing the damaged Crest Gate 19, which was washed away in the heavy current in August last year, would be completed within a month.

Addressing a media conference at his office in Koppal on Thursday, Mr. Hitnal stated that the task of removing the existing temporary stoplog gate elements and installing a new slipway gate at gate 19 had been entrusted to M/S Hardware Tools and Machinery Pvt Ltd, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

“The project cost is ₹1.98 crore. An agreement was made with the contractor on April 23, 2025, and the stipulated completion time for the project is two months. We are expecting that the new crest gate will be installed to replace the damaged one at gate no. 19 in Tungabhadra Dam by July end,” Mr. Hitnal said.

Responding to queries from media representatives, Mr. Hitnal stated that tenders worth ₹52 crore had been floated for the replacement of all the remaining 32 spillway gates with new ones, and the process was currently underway. He added that the process of replacing all the gates might be undertaken during next summer.

“Tungabhadra Reservoir is a lifeline for farmers in this region. The crest gate no. 19 was washed away in the heavy current in August last year. Farmers were worried about the availability of water for their standing crops. With the help of experts like Kannaiah Naidu and the manufacturers Jindal Steel Works, Hindustan Steels, and Narayana Steels, a temporary stop-log gate was successfully installed amid the heavy current. It ensured the timely water availability for both kharif and rabi agricultural seasons. Now, a new crest gate would be installed in place of the temporary gate as a permanent solution,” Mr. Hitnal said.

Sharing details on the events that led to the replacement of damaged crest gate with the new one, Mr. Hitnal said that a committee was constituted by the Central Water Commission (CWC) to assess the condition of all the gates of Tungabhadra Reservoir

“Headed by former CWC Chairman A.K. Bajaj, the team conducted a technical inspection and submitted a comprehensive health overview of the dam, detailing maintenance measures for ensuring dam safety. Additionally, National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) Chairman Anil Jain has recommended minimising water storage in the reservoir and conducting a comprehensive health check of the dam infrastructure,” he said.

He added that KSNDT Services conducted Dye Penetration Tests, Phased Array Ultrasonic Tests, and Visual Inspections on all 32 spillway gates, and submitted a report which highlighted that the thickness of most gate components has reduced by 40% to 50% compared to the original design, and recommended replacing all spillway gates.

“Crest Gate expert Kannaiah Naidu, who inspected the gates on 8 and 9 April, has also recommended strengthening the end connections and girders to the end box. These strengthening works are currently in progress. Mr. Naidu advised that the water storage for 2025–26 be limited to 1,626.06 feet with a capacity of 80 tmc ft. against the Full Reservoir Level of 1633 with a storage of 105.788 tmc ft. The Tungabhadra Board will need to consult with the States concerned before finalising the course of action,” he said.

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Published - May 29, 2025 08:05 pm IST