26 of 33 gates ready, TB dam work in final stage

Koppal: The final phase of crest gate installation at the Tungabhadra dam has commenced, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing modernisation and safety enhancement works.Crest gate expert Kanhaiah Naidu said that with proper annual maintenance, the newly installed gates could have a lifespan of up to 70 years. Sharing details of his inspection of the works, Naidu said on Wednesday that he is a member of the National Dam Safety Authority, and has issued a safety certification for the dam, assuring that all safety standards are being met.Out of the total 33 gates, installation of 26 has been completed. In addition, 15 gates have undergone testing so far. Work is currently under way to install slim plates on certain gates to enhance performance and durability.Naidu further said that a key component, chain links required for the gates, is expected to arrive from Chennai by May 11. Except for the chain link installation, all remaining works are likely to be completed by May 15.He noted that chain link installation can be carried out even when the reservoir holds water, ensuring that the dam will be ready to store water even if heavy rains occur by mid-May.As per the maintenance plan, 11 gates will be serviced annually, ensuring that all gates undergo maintenance once every three years. This systematic upkeep is expected to significantly extend their operational life.Regarding storage capacity, Naidu said the Tungabhadra Reservoir, with a total capacity of 133 TMC feet, currently contains an estimated 31 TMC feet of silt. Experts estimate that about 102 TMC feet of water can be stored, while officials have planned for a maximum storage target of 100 TMC feet this year.Tungabhadra Board secretary ORK Reddy said that the total cost of the project is Rs 51 crore, including Rs 44 crore for gate installation, Rs 5.1 crore for chain link systems, and Rs 1.34 crore for consultancy services. So far, Rs 29.5 crore has been released to the contractor.Superintending engineer Narayana Naik and engineers Gnaneshwar and Kiran were present.