Photo Caption: Water is continuously leaking from Krishna River’s Hipparagi reservoirBelagavi: The installation and repair work of gate No. 22 of the Hipparagi reservoir near Athani taluk in Belagavi district is still ongoing, and the leak in the reservoir may be completely plugged by Monday. The Hipparagi barrage, built across the Krishna River on the border of Athani and Jamkhandi taluks, is a source of water for Athani and Raibag taluks as well. Officials of the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) said that although the reservoir gate was successfully installed, 150 cusecs of water was leaking, but work is under way to close it by expert workers.Hipparagi reservoir is a major irrigation project serving drought-prone areas, including parts of Athani and Raibag taluk in Belagavi district, through its foreshore lift irrigation schemes. The reservoir stores Krishna River water (6 tmcft capacity) for irrigation (74,742 ha) and drinking/industrial use, primarily benefiting drought-stricken areas. It helps irrigate thousands of hectares in both Belagavi and Bagalkot districts. It supports Athani taluk via two left bank foreshore lift irrigation schemes at Halyal and Ainapur, aiming to alleviate drought issues there.Hipparagi reservoir was completed in all respects except for stop log gates in 2004. The water was impounded in the reservoir up to FRL 524.87m since 2004. However, gate No. 22 was damaged on the afternoon of Jan 6 due to a technical problem, and since then it was not possible to stop the water leakage. The repair work was not completed even after 6 days. Water was continuously leaking for the last 7 days, and an estimated 2.5 tmcft of water is lost so far.Rajashekhar Aminbhavi, MD, KNNL, visited the site and is supervising the repair work. He said that the installation of the 7-tonne panel was delayed due to water pressure. A team of diving experts from Shivamoga arrived in Hipparagi. Work began on Sunday morning, and all efforts are being made to prevent the leak.Speaking to media in Devaredderatti village, Athani MLA Laxman Savadi said that 2 decades passed since the construction of the reservoir, and no significant repair work was carried out so far. A grant of Rs 300 crore is required to install new gates for the Hipparagi reservoir.Savadi said that 2.5 tmcft of water has gone through the Hipparagi reservoir, which may cause problems for drinking water and irrigation for more than 250 villages in Athani, Raibag, and Jamkhandi taluks. “We will meet Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and request him to release 2 tmcft of water into the Krishna River during the summer. All MLAs, regardless of party, will meet the Maharashtra CM along with the irrigation minister,” he added.
