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After successfully lowering the first stop-log gate on Friday night, the team continued its work on Saturday, completing the installation of the remaining four gates.
The success of this operation, overseen by dam expert Kannayya Naidu, brought joy among engineers and officials involved. The Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and other ministers congratulated the experts and workers for their efforts.
Following the installation of these stop-log gates, all gates of the reservoir have been closed, stopping the release of water into the riverbed. Over the past six days, 35 TMC of water was released into the riverbed and 8 TMC into the canals.
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The installation required large cranes, which were not available locally. With the help of Jindal Company, which provided two cranes, the operation was completed.
Broken Gate Visible in the Riverbed
As the water flow into the riverbed ceased, the damaged 19th crest gate became visible.
Although the stop-log gates have been installed, a minor water leakage persists. While this cannot be entirely prevented, these gates are capable of holding up to 100 TMC of water in the reservoir. However, the installation of new crest gates before the next monsoon is deemed necessary, according to expert Kannayya Naidu.
“This reservoir is 70 years old. Crest gates should be replaced every 45 years, but that hasn’t been done here. We will recommend the government to replace all gates in the future,” Kannayya Naidu said.