Following the damage to the 19th gate during last year's peak monsoon season, the Tungabhadra Board has decided to replace all 33 crest gates of the Tungabhadra (TB) Dam. This decision was made based on recommendations from an expert committee that assessed the dam's safety. The replacement will take place during the upcoming dry season to avoid any disruption to irrigation and water supply.

The authorities overseeing the Tungabhadra Dam have floated tenders worth Rs 800 million to replace 32 of the gates. Meanwhile, the 19th gate, which was washed away last year, has already been assigned to an Ahmedabad-based company for Rs 10.6 million, with completion expected by June. The tenders for the remaining gates will remain open for bidding until April 28, with the final contract expected to be awarded by May 2. The entire project is expected to be completed in a phased manner over the next 15 months.

In accordance with the cost-sharing arrangement for this inter-state project, Karnataka will cover 55 per cent of the costs, while the combined states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will contribute 45 per cent. Experts have cautioned that the replacement work must be carried out only during the dry season due to the high risk posed by the aging gates.

Although the lifespan of the crest gates was originally estimated at 45 years, they have been in use for more than 70 years without being replaced. The weakened gates caused the failure of the 19th gate last year, leading to significant water loss. Experts have also recommended limiting water storage in the dam to no more than 80 TMC ft, as opposed to its full capacity of 105 TMC ft, to prevent structural damage.

Currently, 30–60 per cent of the gates are said to be in poor condition, prompting the board to incur high maintenance costs. As a precaution, water will be released for only one crop during the upcoming irrigation year, rather than two. The Tungabhadra Dam remains a vital source of water for irrigation across 9.26 lakh acre in Karnataka, 6.25 lakh acre in Andhra Pradesh, and 87,000 acre in Telangana, in addition to supplying drinking water to several regions.

News source: Deccan Chronicle