Karnataka govt. to form expert panel to assess condition of all dams in State
Bengaluru (PTI): In the backdrop of one of the crest gates of the Tungabhadra reservoir being washed away, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said the state government is constituting an expert committee to assess the condition of all dams in the state.
Shivakumar, also the Water Resources Minister, said efforts are on to restore the crest gate at the dam and there is no need for anyone to worry over the issue.
One of the crest gates (19th gate) of the Tungabhadra reservoir near the district headquarters town of Koppal was washed away after its chain link snapped on Friday midnight, following which the downstream areas were put on alert, as a huge quantity of water was being released.
"Yesterday I visited the T B (Tungabhadra) Dam, we have taken immediate action. I have spoken to contractors and we have sent the designs. In four to five days, we will try to repair it. We want to save at least one crop for our farmers, we are taking all necessary measures for it. The Chief Minister is also visiting there tomorrow. I have also discussed with the technical team," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said: "I'm not denying that it was dangerous, for the first time in 70 years such a thing has happened, but there is no need for anyone including farmers to worry."
"We will form a committee for the safety of all dams and will send them to all dams. An expert committee will be formed in a couple of days and will be sent to visit all dams and seek a report from them after assessment," he said.
After visiting the dam on Sunday, Shivakumar had said that as there was a possibility of damage to the structure of the dam, all the gates were opened from where 38,000 cusecs of water is being released to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while the inflow is 28,000 cusecs.
He had also said out of 38,000 cusecs of water being released, 35,000 is flowing from the 19th gate itself.
According to official sources, the Tungabhadra dam, with a maximum storage capacity of 133 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) had 100 tmcft of water as of Saturday, with the remaining being silt. One tmcft is around 11,000 cusecs.
Further noting that at other dams there were double chain links, but in the case of Tungabhadra dam there was only one chain link which got cut, Shivakumar today said: "Looking at the pressure of the water I too felt some problem. We can save water to about 55-60 tmc ft, we are taking measures for it."
"We have ordered (for the crest gate) I have also spoken to JSW for a strong iron. Whoever had made it (gate) earlier, we have given them the design, work is on and in four to five days we will try to settle things. Efforts are on at a war footing," he said.
To a question about allegations that the priority given in case of Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam across river Cauvery, is not given to Tungabhadra dam and others, Shivakumar said: "people who want to make politics or allegations let them do it. Tungabhadra dam is not controlled by Karnataka, there is a separate board for it, for which we are members."
"The dam is with us, but the keys are with them (board), but it is still ours...we have more responsibility," he added.
Shivakumar also rejected JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy's alleged claims that the KRS dam is also facing a problem, and said: "What Kumaraswamy knows? He only knows how to do politics. What problem is there according to him?"
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Sheena Bora case: Indrani Mukerjea moves SC, seeks permission to travel abroad
New Delhi, Nov 26: Former media executive Indrani Mukerjea, accused of killing her daughter Sheena Bora, has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court ruling denying her to travel abroad.
A special court on July 19 allowed Mukerjea's plea to travel to Spain and the UK for 10 days between intermittent periods over the next three months.
The CBI approached the high court challenging the order passed by the special court but the high court quashed the special court order on September 27.
Mukerjea has now moved the apex court challenging the high court's verdict.
In her plea filed in the top court through advocate Sana Raees Khan, Mukerjea said she was a British citizen, and sought permission to visit Spain and her home country for "making necessary changes and amendments and taking care of pending work which cannot be transacted without her personal presence".
She argued the activation of a digital certificate was a must for all relevant work and administration in Spain and her physical presence was mandatory.
In its verdict, the high court noted Mukerjea wanted to travel abroad on the ground that she was a British national and was required to execute documents regarding her bank account and perform other work in Spain and the UK.
While setting aside the special court's order, the high court said if Mukerjea wished to perform these works from India, the statutory authorities back home would extend her the necessary support with the assistance of Embassy of Spain and the UK.
Mukerjea was arrested in August 2015 after the murder of Bora came to light. In May 2022, she was granted bail by the Supreme Court.
She has denied the allegations.
Bora (24) was allegedly strangled to death in a car by Mukerjea, her then-driver Shyamvar Rai and former husband Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012 in Mumbai. Her body was then burnt in a forest in the neighbouring Raigad district, according to the prosecution.
Bora was Mukerjea's daughter from her previous relationship.
The killing came to light in 2015 when Rai reportedly revealed about it during interrogation by police after his arrest in a separate case registered under the Arms Act.
Mukerjea's ex-husband Peter Mukerjea was also arrested for allegedly being a part of the conspiracy linked to the murder, probed by the CBI.
All the accused are currently out on bail.
