Hundreds of thousands of farmers relying on the Tungabhadra reservoir are facing a devastating blow this year: they’re being forced to abandon their second crop. The culprit isn’t a natural disaster, but rather a man-made one – a series of faulty dam gates and a shocking lack of action from the Karnataka government.
Key crest gates – specifically numbers 11, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, and 28 – are reportedly jammed. This critical malfunction means the reservoir’s water storage has to be artificially limited to about 80 tmcft (at 1,626.06 feet). Its full capacity stands at a significantly higher 105.788 tmcft (at a Full Reservoir Level of 1,633 feet). This restriction is necessary to prevent further damage to the compromised gates, but it comes at a steep cost to the region’s agricultural heartland.
During a recent Legislative Council session, Minor Irrigation Minister N.S. Boseraju confirmed the dire state of the gates. Adding to the farmers’ despair, Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar explicitly declared in the Legislative Assembly that there would be no water supply for the second crop in the Tungabhadra command area this year.
This official announcement ignited widespread anger among farmers from Raichur, Koppal, and Ballari. They swiftly organized a protest outside the Tungabhadra Command Area Development Authority office in Munirabad, near the dam. Their accusation was clear: both the Union and State governments were guilty of ‘lethargy and negligence’ in failing to replace the defective gates.
Chamarasa Malipatil, a respected farmers’ leader from Raichur and honorary president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), vocally led the protest. He asserted, “This isn’t a natural drought; it’s a government-made crisis. Back in 2024, after Crest Gate 19 was swept away, experts unequivocally recommended replacing all 33 gates. These gates haven’t seen a major overhaul in 70 years! The authorities had an entire year to act, yet they did absolutely nothing. It’s clear that both the Union and State governments care little for the suffering of our people.”
Mr. Malipatil highlighted the vast impact, stating that approximately 8 lakh acres across Koppal, Raichur, and Ballari districts are entirely reliant on Tungabhadra waters. The lack of irrigation will inevitably devastate hundreds of thousands of lives. He emphasized, “This dam supports about 14 lakh acres in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Denying water for the second crop means suffering not just for farmers, but also for countless laborers, tractor and harvester operators, and rice mill workers.”
Recalling the Crest Gate 19 Incident
A stark reminder of the dam’s vulnerability occurred on August 10, 2024, when Crest Gate 19 of the Tungabhadra reservoir was swept away while the dam was at full capacity. This emergency forced engineers to release water through other gates to alleviate pressure. A dedicated team, led by hydro-mechanical engineer N. Kannaiah Naidu, successfully installed a temporary five-element stop-log gate, which was quickly fabricated in Hosalli, Koppal district. While this temporary solution controlled the outflow, the reservoir had already lost approximately 36 tmcft of water in just one week, with levels plummeting from full capacity to 70 tmcft. Fortunately, subsequent inflows helped replenish the storage, allowing for the cultivation of the second crop last year.
Following that incident, experts emphasized the urgent need to replace all 33 gates, citing the reservoir’s advanced age and the absence of any comprehensive overhauling. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who visited the dam during the 2024 crisis, pledged support for modernization efforts. However, he also pointed out that the Tungabhadra Board, which is led by a Union Government appointee and includes representatives from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, holds the primary responsibility for the dam’s maintenance and upgrades.
Despite these warnings and assurances, no comprehensive replacement work has commenced.
Minister Boseraju recently conceded that only one new crest gate, weighing a hefty 50 tonnes, is currently ready. This single gate is slated for installation in place of Gate No. 19, but only after the monsoon season concludes, highlighting the slow pace of critical infrastructure updates.
The Persistent Siltation Challenge
Beyond the failing gates, another significant and long-standing problem plaguing the Tungabhadra dam is the massive accumulation of silt on its bed. This has dramatically reduced the reservoir’s storage capacity, an issue that has been neglected for years despite urgent calls for attention.
Originally engineered to hold 133 tmcft at a Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 1,633 feet, the dam’s actual capacity has dwindled to approximately 105.788 tmcft – a staggering reduction of nearly 27 tmcft. This severe shrinkage not only curtails the region’s irrigation potential but also compromises flood control capabilities and raises serious concerns about the overall safety and structural integrity of the dam.
A proposed solution, a balancing reservoir near Navale in Koppal district designed to mitigate silt loss, has been stalled for years. This long-pending project remains unrealized, as the various participating states have failed to reach a consensus on its implementation.
With failing crest gates, diminished storage capacity, and apparent official indifference, this vital lifeline for millions has been severely compromised. Farmers in the command area express a profound sense of abandonment precisely when they need support the most, during the crucial agriculture season.
The Enduring Legacy of the Tungabhadra Project
The Tungabhadra Project boasts a rich history, initially conceptualized by Sir Arthur Cotton in 1860 as a defense against famine in the Rayalaseema region. It finally began taking shape in the 1940s, with its foundation stone laid in 1945. However, substantial progress was only made from 1949 onwards, following initial delays caused by technical disputes and political unrest.
By 1953, the masonry work was finalized, enabling both water storage and irrigation. The Tungabhadra Board was established in the same year, tasked with overseeing the project’s completion and the equitable distribution of its water resources.
Following the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, the project transformed into a collaborative effort between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Later, with the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, Telangana also became a key stakeholder, making it a joint venture among Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.