Tunga Reservoir gate chain link found weak; engineers, irrigation corporation officers inspect
Shivamogga: A potential safety concern has emerged at the Tunga Reservoir in Gajanur, Shivamogga district, after the chain link of Gate 8 was found to be on the verge of breaking. This issue, discovered during a routine inspection amid this year’s monsoon, has raised alarms about the structural integrity of the dam.
The weakened chain link was identified as a precautionary measure, leading authorities to decide against raising Gate 8 until the link can be repaired after the monsoon season. The discovery has sparked concerns, especially in light of the recent incident at the Tungabhadra Reservoir, where a gate failure resulted in significant flooding.
In response to media reports highlighting the issue, officers from the Karnataka Neeravari Nigama (Irrigation Corporation) conducted an inspection of the dam site. Engineers provided detailed information on the condition of the reservoir and the necessary steps being taken to ensure safety.
This year’s heavy rainfall in the Tunga River basin has led to a significant rise in water levels at the reservoir. At one point, authorities were forced to release up to 85,000 cusecs of water in a single day. While 21 of the 22 gates were opened to manage the water flow, Gate 8 remained closed due to the weakened chain link.
The Tunga Reservoir, which spans several thousand hectares and has a capacity of 3,500 TMC of water, plays a crucial role in supplying drinking water to Shivamogga city. It also supports lift irrigation for nearby agricultural fields. Given the reservoir’s importance, the safety of its infrastructure is a top priority for the district and state authorities.
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IAF to hold 2-day wargame along frontier with Pakistan: NOTAM issued
New Delhi, May 6 (PTI): The Indian Air Force will carry out a two-day mega military exercise along the border with Pakistan from Wednesday that will involve all the frontline fighter jets including Rafale, Su-30 and Jaguar aircraft, sources in the defence establishment said on Tuesday.
The exercise is taking place amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
India's civil aviation authorities have already issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for the major air exercise that will largely take place along the southern and western section of the Indo-Pakistan border.
India's frontline fighter jets including the Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Tejas and AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft are set to feature in the exercise, the sources said.
In the course of the exercise, the IAF will simulate enemy targets on ground and in the air with deadly precision, they said.
The militaries of both India and Pakistan are on a high alert following rising tensions between the two nations.
Soon after the Pahalgam terror attack, India, citing "cross-border linkages" to the strike, promised severe punishment to those involved in it.
In a high-level meeting with the top defence brass on April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the armed forces have "complete operational freedom" to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India's response to the terror attack.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh met Prime Minister Modi on Sunday and the Chief of Air Staff briefed him about the IAF's operational readiness.
On Saturday, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi apprised the prime minister on the overall situation in the critical sea lanes in the Arabian Sea.
