A breach in the 17th shutter at the Bhavani Kattalai Barrage at Uratchikottai, near Bhavani, led to water gushing out of the barrage here on Wednesday.
Located about six km from Bhavani, the barrage with 18 shutters was constructed across River Cauvery and the power house to produce 30 MW was commissioned in 1989.
At 3 a.m., a breach was reported in the 17th shutter as water started gushing out. Soon the shutter was completely broken and power generation was halted. It resulted in a flood-like situation as fishermen were warned not to enter the river. Also, the alarm at the barrage was sounded to warn people.
Officials of the Public Works Department and Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited rushed to the spot and held discussions. Officials said that maintenance work was carried out six months ago.
The breach could have occurred due to water pressure and the large amount of hyacinth, they said.
The officials said that 18,000 cusecs of water was being discharged from Stanley Reservoir at Mettur. Therefore, repairs to the barrage could be carried out only if the discharge was reduced or stopped. Replacing the shutter would be completed in two days, they said.
The barrage is one of the seven located in Erode, Salem and Namakkal districts, constructed across River Cauvery downstream of Mettur. The barrages are located at Chekkanur, Nerinjipettai, Kuthiraikkalmedu, Uratchikottai, Samayasingili, Vendipalayam and Solasiramani where about 1.5 tmc water is stored and 30 MW power is generated at each power house.