The 71-year-old Tungabhadra Dam, located in Hospet, Karnataka, has become a focal point of concern and political debate following the failure of one of its crest gates. The incident occurred late on Saturday night when the chain of the 19th crest gate broke, resulting in the uncontrolled release of thousands of cusecs of water. This unexpected event has raised fears of potential flooding in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, both of which depend on the Tungabhadra for water resources.
The Tungabhadra River passes through several districts in Karnataka, including Davangere, Ballari, Koppal, and Raichur, before flowing into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The river eventually merges with the Krishna River and empties into the Bay of Bengal. The failure of the dam’s crest gate has put both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on high alert, though officials have assured the public that the situation is under control.
Dam Management Responds, No Immediate Threat Claimed
The Tungabhadra Dam, managed jointly by the Tungabhadra Board, has been a critical water resource for decades. In response to the crisis, Rajesh Aminbhavi, Managing Director of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam, spoke to the media, explaining that the gate was washed away due to a sudden flash flood. “Until the night of August 9, the inflow of water in the Tungabhadra Dam was 30,000 cusecs, and the outflow was 35,000 cusecs. The sudden flash of rain caused the gate to be washed away, but we have taken prompt action, and the gate will be fixed within the next eight to ten days. It is important to understand that at this point, there is no threat to life or property,” Aminbhavi stated.
A senior official involved in the restoration effort elaborated that although the region had received average rainfall, the delayed monsoons led to flash rains on Saturday, which filled the dam to capacity. This necessitated the opening of the gates to release excess water, during which the gate was washed away. An internal inquiry has been launched, and efforts to rebuild the gate are underway.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who inspected the dam on Sunday, emphasized that the authorities in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh had been informed about the situation. “Our priority is to ensure the safety of the dam and the welfare of our farmers. We are focusing on fixing the issue currently, and we will look into the causes of the incident later,” he said. Shivakumar also revealed that the Jindal Group had been approached for assistance in repairing the damaged gate.
Silt Accumulation Hampers Dam’s Storage Capacity
The Tungabhadra Dam, which was designed to hold 136 TMC of water, is currently only able to store around 105 TMC due to silt accumulation. The dam has lost nearly 31 TMC of its capacity because of soil conditions in the area. This issue has further complicated water management in Karnataka, as the silt reduces the amount of water the state can effectively store and distribute.
“The problem is that Karnataka is not getting enough water due to the silt accumulation. That is also something that is being addressed,” explained a senior official involved in the dam’s management.
Opposition Pressure Mounts on Karnataka Government
The failure of the crest gate has also sparked a political firestorm, with the opposition BJP seizing the opportunity to criticize the ruling Congress government. Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra accused the government of negligence, pointing out that the incident could lead to severe flooding in the downstream areas, which are home to more than 40 villages.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, HD Kumaraswamy, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for stop logs to be installed on all crest gates of reservoirs built decades ago. Referring to the Tungabhadra Dam crest gate issue as a “disaster,” Kumaraswamy recommended that similar measures be taken at other key reservoirs in the state, including the KRS Dam in Mandya district.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who previously served as Water Resources Minister, criticized the current administration for not taking the recommendations of a 2023 committee on dam safety seriously. “Based on the committee’s recommendations, funds should have been allocated, and work should have been undertaken to ensure their upkeep. This has happened due to negligence,” Bommai asserted.
Andhra Pradesh Monitors Situation, Expresses Concern Over Water Wastage
In Andhra Pradesh, where the Tungabhadra’s waters are also vital, state officials are closely monitoring the situation. Andhra Finance Minister P Keshav and Irrigation Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu have visited the dam, expressing concern over the potential for water wastage. The downstream reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh, including Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar, are already full, raising fears that any excess water could go to waste instead of benefiting the dry Rayalseema region.
Sources within the Andhra government have urged Karnataka to expedite the repairs to prevent further wastage and ensure that water is available for the regions that depend on it.
Maintenance and Future Plans
Despite the crisis, officials maintain that the Tungabhadra Dam is not facing an immediate threat. Essential maintenance and inspections of the crest gates were carried out as recently as May 2024, according to an irrigation officer working on the project. The dam, commissioned in 1975, has outlived its original life expectancy, and there are ongoing discussions about building a new balancing reservoir nearby in Navilu.
As of now, the inflow into the dam is around 25,571 cusecs, while the outflow is 99,567 cusecs, according to the Tungabhadra Board’s website. The dam is designed to release up to 6.5 lakh cusecs of water at a time if necessary. Officials from the Central Water Commission, as well as state governments in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, are being regularly updated on the situation.
“There is no need for rescue operations right now. Even if we release 2 lakh cusecs of water downstream, it will not affect life or property in the area,” assured a senior irrigation official, seeking to allay fears of any imminent danger.
As efforts continue to restore the dam to full functionality, the incident has highlighted the urgent need for ongoing maintenance and upgrades to aging infrastructure, as well as the political and environmental challenges that accompany such crucial water management systems.
