BALLARI, KOPPAL: Work on installing a temporary crest gate at Tungabhadra dam began on Wednesday after puja was performed at Gate 19 where the crest gate was washed away recently. A temporary crest gate is being installed to prevent water wastage till a new one is installed. Minister Zameer Ahmed was present during the puja.
Massive cranes were moved to Gate 19 to fix the temporary gate and the chain which had given way was hoisted up. Earlier, the temporary crest gate fabricated at Narayan Engineers at Hosapete was brought to the dam along with all the necessary equipment. An ambulance was also kept on standby.
A team of experts, under the guidance of Kannaiah Naidu, is overseeing the installation of the temporary crest gate and the replacement too. Another two crest gates, measuring 4×14 ft has been fabricated at Hamid Engineering in Koppal in five stages while Narayan Engineers has fabricated three. Work has been going on continuously for the last three days.
The dam had stored 105 tmcft of water and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was scheduled to offer bagina to the Tungabhadra river on Tuesday. However, after the 19th crest gate was washed away, 28 tmcft of water has been let into the river from the dam.