Cracks in Kabini dam a cause for concern
More than seven dams in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts, mainly Kabini, Taraka, Nugu, Suvarnavathi, Chikkahole, Gundal and Uduthorehal dam, which are more than 40 years old, need immediate attention for better maintenance and structural safety.
Experts rule out an immediate threat to the structure of Kabini dam. However, neglect or delay in filling up the cavity and cracks would weaken the reservoir structure, they caution.
Irrigation department officials noticed leakage and deployed robots and underwater cameras to record the status of the structure, to report to the expert committee and Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited authorities, with details that the cracks and cavities are more than 50-cm deep. The engineers could not take up work immediately because of high turbidity in the water and poor visibility to fill up the cracks.
The Dam Safety review team and Dam Safety panel, comprising former chairmen of the Central Water Commission, inspected the dams to study their status.
Due to incessant rain, Chikkahole dam brimmed over but there was no relief for farmers as poor maintenance of sluice gates resulted in wastage of water. The inability to operate or fully close the sluice gate has wasted about 6 cusecs of water every day.
The broken sluice gate of Taraka dam was replaced with a 25-tonne gate 19 years ago. If the government wants to utilise the allocated 284tmcft of water, it should replace all crest gates and strengthen the structure based on the expert committee report.
The Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited has approved Rs 32.35 crore for filling up cavities and cracks in the Kabini dam. It has presented a proposal of Rs 88 crore to the Centre to strengthen the dam structures.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Andhra's remote tribal hamlet gets road, school after India Today report
Days after India Today highlighted the plight of the Solubongu tribal hamlet in Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Seetharamaraju district, officials swung into action. The district administration visited the remote village, took cognisance of the issues, and initiated road construction work. A special school for the village has also been tribal residents, who had long struggled with poor connectivity, broke into laughter and celebrated with traditional Dinsa dances, thanking officials for their swift District Collector of Alluri Seetharamaraju district personally visited Solubongu and oversaw the road work from Veerabhadrapet to the village. Officials from the Tribal Welfare Department and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan also visited the hamlet. Solubongu, located under Anantagiri mandal's Pinnikota panchayat, is home to 16 families of the Nuka Dora tribe, with a population of years, 12 children from the village had to cross the three-kilometre Raiwada reservoir by boat and then walk another two kilometres to reach Thamarabba MPP School. This posed serious risks, especially during illnesses and tribals welcomed the officials with flower garlands and felicitated them. As part of immediate relief, Araku Tribal Welfare EE Venugopal Rao sanctioned Rs 3 crore for constructing a gravel road to the village. The work was ceremoniously launched by local elders breaking coconuts and offering prayers to Dippala Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan District Coordinator Dr. R Swaminaidu announced that the Collector had ordered the establishment of a special school in Solubongu. An educational volunteer was appointed to start classes immediately, and five children from Classes 3, 4, and 5 will also be enrolled at Pinnikota Tribal Welfare School starting said they would provide clothes, needles, books, and other facilities for the children. The villagers said that due to the efforts made in the media, 'new lights have come to our village' and that 'even today we celebrated as if we had complete independence.'They added, 'Our situation is that we have to go on a three-kilometer boat when we get fever and tie a drum from there. Our children are always living in a situation where they are worried about what will happen.'- Ends IN THIS STORY#Andhra Pradesh
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Watch: Bihar gets Rs 100 crore road, but trees left in the middle; Drivers dodge danger, call it disaster waiting to happen
A road built at a cost of Rs 100 crore in Bihar's Jehanabad district, around 50 km from Patna, is drawing attention, not for its quality, but for the trees standing right in the middle of it. The 7.48-km stretch on the Patna–Gaya main road was meant to ease traffic and improve connectivity. However, the project took an unusual turn when authorities failed to remove several trees, which now stand awkwardly and dangerously in the centre of the newly widened road. — venkat_fin9 (@venkat_fin9) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Sukamanah (Prices May Surprise You) Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now During the road-widening process, the district administration approached the forest department for permission to cut down the trees. But the request was denied. The forest department asked for compensation for 14 hectares of forest land, which the administration was unable to provide. Live Events — souravreporter2 (@souravreporter2) Instead of resolving the issue, the road was constructed around the trees, leaving them in the middle of the traffic lane. The trees are not aligned in a straight row. They are scattered unevenly, forcing drivers to swerve suddenly to avoid collisions. Local residents say that the area has already witnessed multiple accidents due to this unsafe road design. Locals describe it as a serious safety hazard, saying, anyone driving at night or at high speed can easily crash into these trees. Despite growing concerns, the administration has not taken any concrete steps to fix the problem. Many locals feel that public money has been wasted, and that the government has put lives at risk. Inputs from agencies
India Gazette
5 hours ago
- India Gazette
APEPDCL to provide electricity to 23000 PVTG tribal households under PM Janajati Adivasi Trijan Nyaya Maha Abhiyan
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], June 30 (ANI): The Government of India is providing free electricity connections to houses without electricity through the Pradhan Mantri Janajati Adivasi Trijan Nyaya Maha Abhiyan, whose aim is to provide infrastructure to PVTG tribal settlements living in remote areas, a press release from APEPDCL said. For this scheme, officials from Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) have identified 23,000 PVTG houses without electricity in tribal villages and settlements under its jurisdiction. As part of the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Man Yojana program, the company officials have taken action on a war footing to provide electricity to remote areas under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. The electricity staff worked hard to transport the electricity poles, transformers, conductors and other equipment required to establish the electricity network to remote tribal areas that lack roads and transportation facilities. APEPDCL CMD Prithviraj Imadi would regularly hold special meetings at the electricity substations and provide necessary instructions to the staff, and would also personally visit the tribal villages to inspect the electricity meters installed free of charge for tribal households. Although establishing a network for tribal villages was challenging, the electricity staff, through their collective efforts, provided free electricity connections to more than 22,000 houses in a remarkably short period, bringing electricity to the tribal settlements. While the government's goal is to provide electricity to every household, some tribal villages located in the hills have not been connected to electricity lines. Some tribal families who engaged in shifting cultivation and periodically changed their residences on the hills were provided with five solar-powered LED bulbs, a fan, a charging point, two switchboards, and a solar plant stand. Each family was provided with electricity by providing a free package worth Rs. 50,000. To celebrate Gandhi Jayanti, village assemblies were organised for the PVTG villages that had completed electrification under the APEPDCL area. The company officials certified that all tribal houses in the respective gram panchayat had been electrified, and certificates were given to the village sarpanches who had cooperated in this effort. As of May 17, 23,024 out of 23,087 households without electricity have been connected to the power grid. Through RDSS, 15,102 out of 15,475 households have been supplied with electricity at Rs 48 crores. Through DAJGUA, 487 out of 3,745 families have been provided with electricity, amounting to Rs14.23 crores as of May 17. As part of the Government of India's PM Janman Scheme, electrification and housing are being provided to particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), especially those in remote and migratory habitations with less than five households. Around 1,000 such tribal households have been identified. To address their unique needs, electrification is being implemented in three ways: Individual Solar Home Lighting Systems (SHLS) - Portable kits with solar panels, batteries, lights, and fans for migratory use. Solar mini-grids - For small, isolated communities, particularly those located on hilltops. Solar-Wind Hybrid Mini-Grids - For areas with mixed renewable potential. These efforts are primarily focused on the APEPDCL jurisdiction, which covers the tribal belts from Srikakulam to the Alluri Sitharama Raju districts. About 70% of the 14,312 genuine applicants of the PM Surya Ghar (PMSG) scheme under the Visakhapatnam-based Eastern Power Distribution Company of A.P. Limited (APEPDCL) are generating electricity on their rooftops. Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic (SRTPV) systems have been installed on the roofs of 11 districts under the North Coastal Andhra Power Distribution Company (Discom). (ANI)
