Water goes waste, but repair after 2 days: Officials

They claimed that they were left with only one option and that is replacing the damaged shutter.

“For that, water storage level needs to come down to remove and fix a new shutter,” said an official preferring anonymity.

As the shutter broke prompting a heavy outflow of water, another shutter was opened to ease pressure. 

Till Thursday evening, water storage level at the dam has dropped by just five feet from 51 feet. The dam has a total storage capacity of 52 feet. Repair works can be taken up only when the water level recedes to 32 feet, said the officials.

To prevent any untoward incidents, an emergency flood alert has been issued in five districts of Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Cuddalore districts. People living along the banks of South Pennar River have been asked to move to safer upper regions.

Meanwhile, farmers expressed fears that they may be left without water for irrigation of paddy crop. “Water will now be drained away and wasted, at a time when we need it for our crops. Paddy crops raised in around 25,000 acres may get affected due to lack of water, which in turn will have an impact on the livelihood of hundreds of farmers,” said KM Rama Gounder, president for the Tamilaga vivasayikal sangam

They sought a compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre in places where farmers are dependent on water released from KRP dam.

It is said that this is the first instance of the dam, operational from 10th November, 1957 and inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu K Kamaraj, facing such a threatening damage in its structure.