Tungabhadra Dam Gate Collapse: Two Firms Approached For Urgent Repair Work Of Pampa Sagar Dam

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has announced that two contractor firms have been approached to repair the damaged gate of the Pampa Sagar Dam on the Tungabhadra river. The dam, which is over 70 years old, irrigates 12 lakh acres of land and is a joint responsibility of the governments of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

The dam's 19th crest gate was washed away on Friday night due to a chain link snap, causing a flood of water to be released into the neighboring states. The Deputy Chief Minister visited the dam on Sunday and informed that the water flow from the dam has been increased to 38,000 cusecs to prevent any damage to the structure.

In response to the recent crisis at the Tungabhadra Dam, authorities have initiated the construction of a temporary gate.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced on Sunday that two contractor firms have been approached to repair the damaged gate of the Pampa Sagar Dam on the #Tungabhadra River.#tungabhadradam pic.twitter.com/caSRTnda1s

— Madhuri Adnal (@madhuriadnal) August 12, 2024

The water release has been informed to neighboring states Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with 35,000 cusecs of water flowing from the 19th gate itself. The Deputy Chief Minister stated that the current inflow is 28,000 cusecs and that 63-65 tmc water can be stored at present to ensure repairs are carried out.

The governments of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are working together to address the situation. Instructions have been given to people in a two-km radius to stay alert and not venture close to the river. The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that there is an emergency situation and that no one will be allowed to visit the dam until it is repaired.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to visit the dam on Tuesday for an on-site inspection. The Chief Minister has received a detailed briefing from senior officials of the Water Resources Department and advised precautionary measures to prevent further damage.