Munirabad (Koppal): Despite adequate rainfall, faulty crest gates at the Tungabhadra reservoir have prevented it from reaching full storage capacity this year, threatening irrigation for the second crop and triggering panic among farmers across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.An official in the Tungabhadra Board, on condition of anonymity, said nearly 200 TMC feet of water is flowing into the Tungabhadra River this monsoon season due to the deteriorated condition of multiple crest gates.According to board engineers, six crest gates — numbered 11, 18, 20, 24, 27, and 28 — are currently inoperative due to structural bending, while gate 19, which was washed away last year, remains on a stop log. Officials have halted water release through the damaged gates entirely.Raghavendra, technical officer of the Tungabhadra Board, said as a precautionary measure, the reservoir’s maximum storage has been capped at 80 TMC feet this monsoon, far below its full capacity of 101 TMC feet. As a result, the reservoir has been discharging water into the river since July, resulting in 200 TMC feet of water reaching Andhra Pradesh. Despite an ample inflow into the dam, the inability to retain water effectively has led to farmers in Koppal, Raichur, Vijayanagara and Ballari districts, along with those in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, receiving water for only one crop this year. This was confirmed by deputy chief minister and water resources minister DK Shivakumar in the legislative assembly, who added that second crop irrigation won’t be possible, as the dam’s water level must be reduced drastically to facilitate the installation of new crest gates. In response, the Karnataka State Farmers’ Association has called for a protest near the dam site on Sept 8, accusing the govt of negligence over the long-pending demands for dam repairs. Association state honorary president Chamaras Malipatil said farmers from the four riparian districts will lead the agitation, who are impacted due to the neglect of the 70-year-old dam. Meanwhile, BJP leader Prabhuraj Patil from Munirabad has urged immediate water release into the Vijayanagara canals, which irrigate areas in Munirabad, Huligi, Shivpur, Bandi Harlapur, Sanapur, and Anegondi. He warned of further protests if water supply is not ensured for these areas.The restricted reservoir capacity also threatens drinking water supply and power generation, especially in Raichur district. Hydropower plants and over 50 factories across the four districts rely heavily on the Tungabhadra reservoir.
