Anantapur: After losses to the 19th Gate during the peak monsoon season last year, the Tungabhadra board decided to replace all 33 Crest gates in the Tungabhadra (TB) Dam. According to the recommendations of the expert committee that reviews the safety of the dam, replacement will be carried out in the upcoming dry season to avoid interference from irrigation and water supply.
Tungadra Dam authorities have floated a bid worth Rs 80 crore to replace 32 gates, while the 19th gate washed away last year has been allocated to an Ahmedabad-based company for Rs 160 crore, which is expected to be completed in June. The tender for the remaining doors will be open until April 28, with a final contract expected to be awarded on May 2. The project is scheduled to be completed in a phased manner within 15 months.
Under the cost allocation arrangement for the interstate projects, Karnataka will bear 55% of the expenditure, while United Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana) will contribute 45%. Experts warn that due to the high risks posed by aging doors, replacements must be made during the dry season.
There is an estimated lifespan of 45 years of champion Gates, but they have been running for more than 70 years and have no replacement. The weakened door led to the failure of the 19th door last year, leading to large-scale water loss. Experts also advise against storing more than 80 TMC ft of water in the dam to prevent its full capacity of 105 TMC FT to prevent structural damage.
Currently, 30-60% of doors are reportedly in poor condition, forcing the board to incur high maintenance costs. For precautions, water releases only one crop in the upcoming irrigation year rather than in two crops. The Tungabhadra Dam is a vital source of water for over 926,000 acres of irrigation in Karnataka, 625,000 acres of land in Andhra Pradesh and 87,000 acres in Telangana, in addition to providing drinking water to multiple areas.
