JOIN USPicturesque Hirebhaskar dam resurfaces
In what is a sign of the precariously low water level in the Linganamakki reservoir, the Hirebhaskar dam in the backwaters of the reservoir has resurfaced.
The attractive architecture of the dam will continue to be visible for some more time with the monsoon weakening in the last few days.
The Hirebhaskar dam is four km from the Linganamakki reservoir. The dam becomes visible when the water level in the Linganamakki reservoir slips to 1,770 feet. A large number of tourists and trekkers visit this place in May and June for a glimpse of the picturesque Hirebhaskar dam, located amidst huge rocks and natural forest in Sagar taluk.
Once the level in the Linganamakki reservoir rises, the Hirebhaskar dam submerges in the water, till the next lean period.
Electricity generation
The engineers of the princely State of Mysore planned to generate electricity by constructing a dam across River Sharavati in 1930.
As a first step, they launched the construction of the Hirebhaskar dam at Madenur, 20 km from Jog Falls in 1939.
11 siphons
Under the supervision of civil engineer Ganesh Iyer, 9,000 workers constructed the dam having siphons. The presence of 11 siphons (measuring 18 feet in width and 58 feet in height) in the dam helps prevent floods and release only the quantum of water that is required for the dam.
It was planned to generate 120 MW of electricity through eight hydroelectricity units in the Mahatma Gandhi Hydro-Electric Station.
Inaugural
The construction work of the dam was completed in 1948. The inaugural ceremony of the
dam was slated to be held on February 2, 1949.
But it was postponed following the death of Mahatma Gandhi. Later, it was inaugurated on February 21.
It was decided to name the power station after Krishnarajendra Wadiyar.
But, later, the engineering marvel was named after Mahatma Gandhi.