Harangi Dam to be de-silted soon

MADIKERI: Following a string of debilitating droughts that had left the reservoir wearing a parched look only four years ago, successive spells of excessive rainfall that Kodagu has registered since 2018 has had an equally devastating effect on the condition of Harangi Dam near Huduguru. Heavy rainfall that has lashed the district year on year has swept in copious volumes of silt into the reservoir, necessitating its imminent removal. In addition to accumulation of alarming volumes of silt, connecting bridges on the dam's backwaters have collapsed. Taking cognisance of the extensive scale of damage to the reservoir, and bearing in mind the effects this could have in the long run, the authorities are slated to commence work on de-silting, and repair of the broken bridges, besides undertaking a comprehensive refurbishment project.
Harangi Dam can store, when it fills up to the brim, up to 8.5tmcft. Constructed decades ago to supply water for irrigating the thousands of hectares of agricultural fields in Mysuru, Kodagu and Hassan districts, the dam is currently storing 2.74tmcft of water. The authorities can initiate de-silting of the reservoir only once this volume of water is depleted.
The cost of the project that includes de-silting and repair of the bridges is estimated to be around Rs 130 crore. The project also entails the construction of the gabion wall - the structure that helps stabilise sloping surfaces - to prevent silt from accumulating in the reservoir.
Meanwhile, farmers populating the villages on the backwaters have filed a lawsuit in the high court, demanding that the authorities commence the project at the earliest. The petitioners pointed out that many companies had already completed a survey of the dam. The high court has asked the government to submit a report on the status of the project.
A team of engineers from Delhi, Singapore, among others, took stock of the condition of the dam, and submitted a draft for the outline of the project to the government. MLA Appachu Ranjan said that funds required for the execution of the project had been disbursed, adding that work would be undertaken with the aid of advanced technology.
Harangi Dam executive engineer, BK Puttaswamy said that work at the dam could be undertaken for only four to five months of a year. However, he exuded confidence of the authorities meeting the deadline.