KOPPAL
The storage capacity of the Tungabhadra (TB) reservoir at Munirabad will be restricted to 80 TMC for the 2025 season due to safety concerns and ongoing repair work on crest gate no. 19, said MP K. Rajashekar Hitnal. This is well below the dam's full capacity of 101 TMC and will support only one crop cycle this year.
The restriction follows the displacement of spillway gate no. 19 on August 10 last year. A stop log gate was installed a week later, which reduced the water level from 93 TMC to 70 TMC. The installation was made possible through joint efforts by government engineers, technicians, and crest gate specialist N. Kannaiah Naidu, with support from Jindal Steels, Hindustan Steels, and Narayana Steels.
A technical committee led by former Central Water Commission chairman A.K. Bajaj assessed the dam and recommended stringent safety measures. NDSA President Anil Jain also inspected the dam and recommended low water levels for conducting non-destructive testing (NDT).
Ahmedabad-based KSNDT conducted ultrasonic and dye penetration tests on all 33 gates and found 40-50% thickness loss from the original specifications. They recommended complete gate replacement. Naidu advised reinforcing crest gate frame connections, but full replacement is not feasible this year.
Hence, storage will be kept 12 to 15 feet above the spill level to meet irrigation and drinking needs safely. For 2025–26, the maximum level must remain within 80 TMC and 1,626.06 feet, pending Tungabhadra Board approval. Gate 19 will be replaced by Hardware Tools and Machinery at a cost of ₹1.7 crore by July 2025.