Karnataka: Process to replace crest gates of Tungabhadra dam set in motion

Hosapete (Vijayanagar district): Ahmedabad-based Hardware Tools & Machinery Projects Ltd set in motion the process to replace all 33 old and obsolete crest gates of the Tungabhadra (TB) reservoir near Hosapete on Friday.

The officials of the company, which bagged the contract for Rs 52 crore, arrived at the dam site and offered puja on Friday.

The company will, however, take up full-fledged work to replace the gates only after the water level in the dam goes below the crest gate level. The current storage in the dam stands at 67 tmcft and the work will begin after the storage level goes below 40 tmcft. The work, In all likelihood, will begin in full swing by the month-end.

According to Tungabhadra Board officials, a total of 15 gates are ready for installation and the remaining 18 gates will be manufactured in another three months.

The officials said that it would take seven days to remove the old gate and another seven days to install a new one. It would take at least six months to replace all 33 gates.