Bengaluru, 22 Sept

Deputy Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar has announced the installation of new crest gates for Tungabhadra reservoir within next year.

Speaking at a public function in Munirabad on Sunday, Shivakumar assured that the installation will be done after consultations with the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tungabhadra Board. These new crest gates will be equipped with the latest technology to protect the interests of farmers.

Recalling an incident on 10 August, when the damage to Crest Gate 19 was reported, Shivakumar detailed the swift action taken, including a site visit the next morning, meetings with engineers, and the immediate commissioning of the necessary crest gates. He praised the engineering team, particularly Kannaiah Naidu, for saving over 20 TMC of water, which prevented a severe impact on crops across 9 lakh acres. Contributions from companies like Narayana Engineering, Jindal, and Hindustan Engineering were also acknowledged for their role in fixing the damage swiftly, a feat that garnered attention nationwide.

Shivakumar also announced plans for the construction of Navali balancing reservoir, which aims to address silting issues in Tungabhadra reservoir that currently prevent the use of 33 TMC of water.

Highlighting the cultural and religious significance of Tunga River, Shivakumar noted that Tungabhadra dam, a Congress initiative, remains a key contribution to the region. He referenced Jawaharlal Nehru’s declaration of dams as the ‘temples of modern India’ and spoke about the introduction of Tunga Aarti, with plans to start a similar Cauvery Aarti. -Salar News