Harangi reservoir crest gate poses threat

Madikeri, June 10 (UNI) Karnataka Irrigation Secretary Mahesh has said with the water level in the Harangi reservoir crossing last year's record, crest gate no 3 posed a grave threat as its concrete blocks had broken and it might give in any day.

Supervising repair works on the dilapidated crest gate yesterday, he told UNI that if the crest gate gives in, the consequences would be very bad. The radial gates undergo such damage and it should be supervised from time to time, he added.

Expressing satisfaction over the water storage this year, he said the water level this year was 50 per cent more with an inflow of 3.44 TMC. Irrigation and drinking water would be available aplenty this season, he added.

On the Cauvery issue, Mr Mahesh opined that the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal was assessing the situation without inspecting the ground realities. It had stated that Karnataka required only 251 TMC of water and 395 TMC should be let to Tamil Nadu. But, in reality, Karnataka required 408 TMC of water and the State had released 400 TMC of water to the lower riparian State, he claimed.

He said the State Government was spending Rs 18 crore on various irrigation projects in Karnataka. While 115 projects were on the anvil, 45 were underway. Around 729 TMC of water would be released for irrigation and drinking through the Upper Krishna project.

The official also visited Talacauvery and Bhagamandala and inspected the developmental works. Cauvery Development Board Advisor T D Manmohan, Chief Commissioner Devaraj, PWD Executive Engineer Basappa, AEE Satyanarayan and Mujarai Manager Sampath Kumar accompanied him.

UNI XR GD MA BST1741