NARAYANPUR DAM (SURPUR TALUK): Water Resources Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge said on Friday that a high-level technical committee will be appointed to go into the cracking of gate No. 5 of the Narayanpur Dam and find out who among the officials was responsible for the accident. The Government will take stern action against those found guilty of negligence, he said.

Mr. Kharge was on a visit to the site along with senior officials of Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigama Ltd., including its Managing Director A.P. Joshi, Technical Committee Advisor of the Water Resource Ministry D.N. Desai, Secretaries of Water Resources Department Krishnappa and Ramesh. The Minister told presspersons that the State Government has taken serious note of the accident and the officials guilty will not go unpunished. He specifically convened a meeting of the senior officials of the department a month ago to ensure safety and maintenance of all dams. He had told the officials that the safety and security of dams should be their priority.

Mr. Kharge said he had entrusted the responsibility of supervising the work of stopping the flow of water from the damaged gate to Mr. Desai. The official will camp in Narayanpur Dam till the flow of water is stopped. He said the priority of the Government now is to stop the flow of water by lowering the emergency stop log gate and later take up investigation of the lapses on the part of the officials.

No threat

Mr. Kharge said that only 3.5 tmcft. of water has flowed out through the damaged gate till Friday afternoon. About 10 tmcft. of water may flow out before the emergency stop log gate is lowered. He has given 24 hours time to the officials to stop the flow of water.

The Minister said there is no threat to the irrigation programme from Narayanpur Dam this season.

The loss of about 10 tmcft. of water because of the accident in the Narayanpur Dam will be made good with the continued inflow into the Alamatti Dam this year.

Three stop log gates

Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd. Managing Director A.P. Joshi told presspersons at Jewargi that the Narayanpur Dam had three emergency stop log gates. He said the officials incharge of the dam were not adequately trained to tackle the problem after gate No. 5 cracked on Thursday.

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