Wire snaps due to lack of maintenance; officials restore gate in a two-day operation

H.D. Kote: Even as there is an inflow of more than 1 lakh cusecs to Kabini Reservoir following heavy rains in Wayanad in Kerala that is the main catchment of Kabini, one of the four crest gates in the Reservoir has malfunctioned, increasing the pressure on the rest of the three gates. 

Latest reports from Kabini Dam say that the malfunctioned gate has been restored and since this morning, all the four gates have been opened.  

There are four crest gates in the Dam, located at H.D. Kote Taluk and more than 1,25,000 cusecs of water is being released on a daily basis flooding the downstream areas including Nanjangud. Officials at the Dam observed that the wires that enable the movement of the crest gate have snapped and as a result, the gates could not be manoeuvred to release water in full potential. 

Usually when the Dam is full, water is released from all the four crest gates. This time as one of the gates malfunctioned, there was increased pressure on the other three gates. Sources said that the wires of the very first gate of the Dam had snapped.  

The malfunction was noticed on Thursday at a time when heavy rains are lashing at Wayanad in Kerala and thousands of cusecs of water is flowing into the reservoir every hour. Local residents, who are in the know of things, told Star of Mysore that the gates were not properly maintained. “The officials had a lot of time to maintain the crest gates that need annual upkeep. As the gates were not maintained properly, the wires have cut as the officials attempted to release more than 1 lakh cusecs of water,” said a resident. 

Soon after the malfunction came into notice, officials began the task of restoring the wires. Sources said that the sturdy metal wires have been replaced with a new set of wires. A jeep was used to draw the wire and repairs were carried out to restore the crest gate. 

According to Kabini Dam Executive Engineer Sujatha, the repair works of the gates were completed late last night. “Since Thursday, we worked round-the-clock to repair the wires and we have restored them. We took the help of local people and the Dam staff,” she said and added that the Dam was safe and there was no need to panic. 

Today morning, Kabini officials released 1,25,000 cusecs of water, submerging the downstream villages. More than 200 people have been shifted to community centres that have been converted into relief centres. 

Reports from Kerala say that Banasura Sagar Dam at Wayanad, which impounds the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini River, will release over 26,000 cusecs of water today. 

As it is raining heavily in Wayanad, the Banasura Dam will step up the outflow depending on the water storage. This will increase the inflow to the Kabini Dam and as a result, there will be an increased outflow, officials added.