A team of experts visited the Bhadra dam in Bhadravathi taluk recently.
Credit: DH Photo
Shivamogga: The Bhadra reservoir situated on the borders of Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts has completed 60 years. On this milestone, the Dam Safety Revival Panel (DSRP), a unit of the Central Water Commission (CWC), has come forward to ensure the dam’s safety.
It can be recalled that during the last monsoon, the sluice gate and the gate of the left bank canal of the reservoir were damaged and water had flown into the river. In addition, water leakage in the dam also raised questions about the safety of the reservoir. Therefore, a team of nine experts led by DSRP chief Arun Kumar Bajaj visited the Bhadra River Project (BRP) or the Bhadra dam near Lakkavalli for two days on January 29 and 30 to study the measures needed to safeguard the reservoir.
After the collapse of the crest gate of the Tungabhadra reservoir in Hosapete of Vijayanagar district, the Water Resources Department is paying close attention to the safety of the state’s reservoirs. It has sought financial and technical assistance for the repair of the state’s reservoirs under the Central Water Commission’s Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP). Thus the DSRP team visited BRP.
Project report sent
To ensure the safety of the Bhadra reservoir, the Karnataka Irrigation Corporation (Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited or KNNL) has prepared a project report and sent it to the Centre to undertake work worth Rs 70 crore.
A team of experts comprising Karnataka Engineering Research Station (KERS) Director K G Mahesh and chief engineer Srinath have conducted a study as per the reservoir safety manual. Soon, the committee will submit a report based on which a detailed plan will be prepared.
KNNL sources say the plan is to complete the Bhadra reservoir repair work by the coming monsoon season.
Speaking to DH, Bhadra dam engineer, who did not wish to be named, said the team visited the Bhadra, KRS Kabini and other dams in the state. They observed the defects in the dam and took the drawing of the dam structure from the officials concerned. They are expected to submit a report on measures needed for the dam’s safety. The dam repair works will be taken up based on the report.