Tungabhadra Dam's Gate Break Sparks Concerns, High-Level Canal Systems Operating At Full Capacity

The High-Level Canal (HLC) and low level canal (LLC) of the Tungabhadra Dam, serving an ayacut of about 6.5-lakh acres both in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, are currently operating at full capacity, bringing both hope and concern for farmers in the region. In the last 8 hours, over 1.5 TMC of water outflow has been reported from the Tungabhadra Dam, reflecting the heightened activity as the crop season gets underway.

The Tungabhadra Board maintains HLC for a length of 105.5-km and LLC for 250.5-km, both running in Karnataka territory before entering AP.

The present water storage in the dam stands at 104.182 TMC, down from an earlier storage of 105.788 TMC. With the crop season just beginning, the next 48 hours are critical for agricultural activities in the area, as the consistency of water supply will play a pivotal role in the success of this season's crops.

This comes after, one of the Tungabhadra Dam's gates was washed away by floodwaters following the breaking of its chain link late Saturday night. The incident occurred around 11 PM after dam authorities had lifted all the gates to manage the increased water inflow over the past few days.

Currently, the dam is releasing nearly one lakh cusecs of water downstream, with all gates elevated by 20 feet to accommodate the heavy flow. The sudden loss of a gate has added to the complexity of managing the water release and raised concerns about downstream flooding.

Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu stated that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has reviewed the situation and dispatched a specialized engineering team, including the Central Design Commissioner, to assess and address the damage. The District Collector has been instructed to alert residents in the affected areas of Kouthalam, Kosigi, Mantralayam, and Nandavaram mandals. Additionally, officials overseeing the Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, and Pulichintala projects have been warned to remain vigilant.

As floodwaters continue to rush downstream, efforts are underway to mitigate the impact on local communities. Once the waters recede, priority will be given to repairing the damaged gate and restoring normal operations at the dam. The incident has heightened concerns among farmers and residents alike, as they brace for the critical days ahead.