The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Nagarjunasagar crest gate arm damaged

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 05, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Nagarjunasagar crest gate arm damaged

Staff Reporter

Dam officials suspect sabotage, point fingers at five employees

NAGARJUNASAGAR: The left arm of the 23rd crest gate of the Nagarjunasagar dam was dislodged from the main gate structure raising serious doubts over the safety of the crest gate system installed way back in 1974.

As all 24 bolts of the arm were found broken, NSP officials suspect that it is an act of sabotage.

The dislodged arm is seen resting on the sill.

Though officials are trying to play down the issue, the dislodging of the arm means dysfunction of the crest gate itself. "Now we cannot operate this particular gate. Since this is not the flood season, we don't have any problem.

Otherwise, it would have been a catastrophe,'' an official source said.

The dam has 26 radial crest gates, each one weighing 110 tonnes, and the damage came to light during pre-monsoon checks on April 30.

Probe ordered

The Executive Engineer of the Dam Maintenance Division, Narender Rao, told The Hindu on Wednesday that it was the first-of-its kind problem. He said a preliminary enquiry had been ordered by the Chief Engineer, Abdul Basheer, and the report was expected in a day or two. " The CE will take a final decision on the issue of taking up repairs,'' he said.

Police case

In a complaint filed with the Vijyapuri South police station, NSP officials raised doubts over the role of five personnel -- an operator, two fitters, a helper and a mopla.

They attended the gate without obtaining permission.

They could have done it with malicious intentions, according to the complaint, filed by the DEE, Hanumantha Rao, said.

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