The newly installed crest gates at the Tungabhadra reservoir will be inaugurated on June 25 in Munirabad, Koppal district, with elaborate preparations underway for the event. Officials announced that Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, along with the chief ministers of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, are expected to attend.
Dignitaries and Preparations
Tungabhadra Board Secretary ORK Reddy stated that Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, the state's water resources minister, and several other dignitaries are likely to participate. Shivakumar has directed officials to ensure the smooth conduct of the program, prompting arrangements such as the construction of helipads for VVIP movement.
The newly installed crest gates have already been painted, and whitewashing of the reservoir wall is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. Roads connecting the reservoir from Hosapete and Koppal are being repaired, and officials are making arrangements to ensure hassle-free traffic during the event.
Historical Context and Previous Incident
Completed in 1953, the reservoir serves as an irrigation source for 17.3 lakh hectares of farmland across Karnataka's Vijayanagara, Ballari, Koppal, and Raichur districts, Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool, Anantapur, and Kadapa districts, and Telangana's Mahabubnagar district. The original gates remained in service well beyond their expected lifespan of five decades until the 19th gate, measuring about 60 feet in width and 20 feet in height, was washed away on the night of August 10, 2024, resulting in a substantial discharge of water into the Tungabhadra river.
Contract and Installation
Following sustained demands after the incident, the contract for replacing the crest gates was awarded in December 2025 to Ahmedabad-based Hardware Tools and Machine Project Limited. The company has previously installed gates at the Farakka Barrage reservoir in West Bengal, the KRS reservoir, and the Narayanpur dam. The new gates, installed at a cost of Rs 51.8 crore, were fabricated at yards in Adavi Somapur near Gadag, the Tungabhadra Board yard in Vijayanagara, and the TB Board yard in Koppal.
Impact on Farmers
The state government's decision to withhold water supply for the second crop during the installation period had triggered protests in four riparian districts. Ministers and legislators appealed to farmers to forgo one crop season to facilitate the replacement, assuring them of adequate water availability in the future. With the work completed within the scheduled timeframe and ahead of the monsoon, the project has brought relief to farmers who feared delays would affect irrigation.
Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news. Download the TOI App.
