Bengaluru: The govt, in collaboration with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has announced plans to replace all 33 sluice gates of Tungabhadra dam, an ageing structure critical to the region's water needs. The restoration project will be executed under the Centre's Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) scheme.
The urgency of the project was reinforced by the recent collapse of sluice gate No 19, which was washed away amid heavy rains in Aug. The breach led to 36tmcft of water flowing out of the reservoir, which stores a total 105 tmcft. A technical team, headed by Kannaiah Naidu, a national expert in hydro-mechanical equipment, took four days to repair the damage.
The estimated cost of replacing each sluice gate is about Rs 5 crore, bringing the total cost to Rs 165 crore. The state govt is seeking financial support through the DRIP scheme, which includes provisions for loans from the World Bank.
"We are prioritising maintenance and restoration of Tungabhadra Dam since it's a critical project," said deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who holds the water resources portfolio. "The Centre has released a tranche of funds under the DRIP scheme, and we are hoping to secure additional support to replace the sluice gates. If we do not receive the required grant from the Centre, we will use our own funds."
Water from the dam is shared between Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana since its catchment area spans all three states. Karnataka maintains 50% of the dam's main structure and its left bank canal, while Andhra Pradesh is responsible for the other half and two left bank canals. The stakes are divided in the ratio 50:45:5 among the three states. A board comprising water resources secretaries from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and a representative of the Central Water Commission oversees the dam's management.
A water resources department official said the issue of sluice gate replacement was raised at a DRIP council meeting last month. Authorities requested funds under the scheme and will soon submit a formal proposal after discussing it with the Tungabhadra Dam board, which will meet next week.
"Replacement of the sluice gates is essential, as dam equipment is typically replaced every 45 years," said Kannaiah Naidu, emphasising the urgency of restoration efforts. "Tungabhadra dam, commissioned in 1955, has already surpassed this timeline by 20 years."
In addition to the TB dam's sluice gates, the state govt is also overseeing restoration of 58 other dams under the DRIP-II scheme. Restoration work for eight reservoirs, including Almatti, Narayanapura, and Hemavati, has already begun.