The floodgates of Tungabhadra dam in Karnataka have opened the floodgates for the political blame recreation within the state, even because the Andhra Pradesh State Catastrophe Administration Authority warned individuals dwelling alongside the Krishna river to stay vigilant. The incident occurred in Hospet on Saturday evening when Gate 19 of the dam was washed away on account of heavy floods following a series break.
“The flood movement is near 35,000 cusecs and a complete of 48,000 cusecs can be discharged downstream. Individuals of Kosiri, Mantralayam, Nandavaram and Kouthalam in Kurnool district ought to train warning,” R Kurmanadh, normal supervisor of the company, mentioned in a launch. He additionally suggested residents dwelling alongside the Krishna River to keep away from crossing canals and streams.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar mentioned that two corporations have been contacted to restore the dam gates. Fearing structural injury to the dam, all gates had been opened, from the place 38,000 cusecs of water was launched to the neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Shivakumar mentioned, including that the influx was 28,000 cusecs.
As authorities attempt to resolve the difficulty, News18 appears on the dam, the performance of the crest gates and the political confrontation surrounding the accident:
What’s a high door and the way does it operate?
High gates, additionally known as spillway gates, management overflow or reservoir water ranges. Based on the Beijing Water Conservancy and Hydropower Firm, the highest gate makes use of a backside hinge flap to manage the water degree. Gates are often hydraulically operated and rotate on hinges to facilitate opening and shutting actions. These gates have confirmed to be the most suitable choice for permitting quite a lot of supplies, together with ice, to go downstream, making them adaptable to quite a lot of circumstances.
An engineering portal says one other benefit of high gates is that they supply good management of upstream water ranges as a result of they act like top-adjustable weirs. Subsequently, they’re extra generally utilized in dams the place upstream water ranges should be maintained inside a slim vary.
About Tungabhadra Dam
The greater than 70-year-old scheme was conceived in 1860 by British engineer Sir Arthur Cotton on the Madras Presidency to offer irrigation amenities, generate electrical energy and management floods within the space .
Nonetheless, development of the scheme didn’t start till 1949 as a three way partnership between the Kingdom of Hyderabad and the Madras Presidency. The challenge was accomplished in 1953.
Also called Pampa Sagar, the dam spans the Tungabhadra River close to the cities of Hosapet and Koppal. Tungabhadra Reservoir and Mullaperiyar Dam in Kerala have the distinctive characteristic of being the one two reservoirs within the nation constructed utilizing a mixture of mud and limestone.
What went unsuitable on Saturday?
On Saturday evening, 40,000 cusecs of water had been launched into the Tungabhadra river by 10 crest gates. At round 12:50 p.m., a hyperlink on the nineteenth gate broke, inflicting the gate to shift and trigger water to pour into the river. To cut back the strain, all 33 mountaintop gates had been opened. By Sunday morning, the movement elevated to at least one hundred thousand cubic seconds. That is the primary time within the 70-year historical past of Tungabhadra dam that it has suffered such injury.
“Water flows out of the summit gate with nice drive. The water degree within the dam have to be lowered by 20 ft. Solely then can the situation of the summit gate be assessed.
An alert has been issued for downstream areas together with Koppal, Vijayanagara, Ballari and Raichur, however authorities mentioned there was structural injury to the dam The likelihood could be very low.
What is the resolution?
Step one is to empty about 60% of the reservoir so restoration can start. Based on dam officers, water releases from different gates should be elevated to alleviate strain on the broken gates.
To switch the broken gates, not less than 60 tons cubic ft of the 100 tons cubic ft of water at the moment saved within the dam will should be launched. This course of, together with development of the brand new summit gate, is anticipated to take 4 days or extra.
Bharatiya Janata Occasion complains
The BJP has accused the Karnataka authorities of negligence and wastage of water, inflicting distress to farmers who rely on water for his or her livelihood.
Opposition chief Ashoka accused Shivakumar, who can be the water assets minister, of working for the occasion excessive command and never his division. “For him, the welfare of the occasion is extra vital than the individuals. If he had held a gathering with the technical group, this could not have occurred.
BY Vijayendra, chairman of the Bharatiya Janata Occasion, mentioned that greater than 30 villages downstream of the reservoir are going through the specter of flooding and requested the federal government to evacuate villagers within the space as quickly as doable.
