Vijayanagara, May 4: Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Irrigation, D.K. Shivakumar, announced on Sunday that the replacement of 33 crest gates at the Tungabhadra Dam is nearly complete, with preparations for inauguration set for May 15.
After inspecting the installation of the new gates, Shivakumar told reporters, “All 33 new gates have been installed, and only minor work remains. Instructions have been given to complete this by May 7 and prepare for the inauguration on May 15.”
He expressed his satisfaction, stating, “Today is a day of great joy. The livelihoods of 750,000 farmers have been secured. Those who criticized us have received their answer today. The results of our decisions are now visible. Farmers from four districts will be invited to the event. Currently, the dam holds 10.50 TMC of water, and if it rains, it could fill up to 44 TMC in two months. So far, ₹540 million has been spent, shared between the two states at a 64:34 ratio.”
Shivakumar emphasized the autonomy given to the dam administration, ensuring no interference. He stated, “The installation of the 33 gates serves as a model for the country. The entire nation has been watching this work. When the 19th crest gate was damaged, we consulted experts and proceeded under their guidance.”
He also mentioned that ₹3 billion has been allocated for the safety of other projects. “Although the chains were reported to be fine, I directed their replacement. This work has been awarded to an organization in Chennai, and the first batch of chains will arrive soon. Farmers and the public are pleased with this work. These gates will function without issues for the next 50 years.”
Shivakumar acknowledged the understanding of farmers who sacrificed one crop for this project, stating, “I salute their cooperation. Those who criticize politically do so habitually, as they have never undertaken such work. We have silenced our critics with this project.”
Regarding the Nalwadi Balancing Reservoir and silt removal, he noted, “The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh is not providing us time on this issue. We also have a proposal to pump water and store it elsewhere. The Andhra CM is not coming forward for board-level discussions, likely due to their current water availability.”
On the topic of silt removal based on the Chinese model, he remarked, “Removing silt and relocating it is not an easy task. It will need to be contracted to private companies, which will only proceed if it is profitable. We will need to issue a global tender for where the removed silt will be placed.”
When asked about raising the dam’s height, he stated, “We are not addressing this issue. We are looking for ways to conserve water within the existing system.”
On the pending 86,000 files in the state, he mentioned, “The Chief Minister has discussed this in the cabinet and has instructed that all files be resolved promptly.”
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