All 33 new ridge gates at Tungabhadra Dam to be dedicated to the nation on June 25

In a water safety and security infrastructure milestone, the completely replaced set of 33 steel ridge gates of the Tungabhadra dam at Hosapete in Vijayanagara district will be formally dedicated to the public on Thursday (June 25, 2026).

The launch ceremony, which is scheduled at 11 am, will be held at the Government High School, Munirabad, Koppal district.

Organized jointly by the Water Resources Department and the Tungabhadra Council, the event marks the successful culmination of an unprecedented engineering and restoration exercise.

Reflecting the immense cross-state significance of the project, the inauguration ceremony will witness a significant gathering of top political leaders and administrators from the Union Government and the three coastal states.

According to the official invitation, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar will perform the formal inauguration. The event will feature a star-studded line-up of dignitaries, including Union Minister for Jal Shakti CR Patil, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara and Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy will also participate in the collaborative spirit of the project.

Local legislator K. Raghavendra Hitnal, who represents the Koppal Assembly constituency, will preside over the entire meeting.

Senior Union Ministers of State, Regional Water Resources Ministers, local Members of Parliament and senior technocrats, including the Chairman of the Central Water Commission, are also expected to attend the event.

Post-crisis repair

A major overhaul was initiated following a major structural crisis during the 2024 monsoon.

In August 2024, the sudden washout of Gate No. 19 in the midst of high tide caused intense anxiety among agrarian communities and residents of the Tungabhadra basin.

The failure exposed aging vulnerabilities in the tank’s decades-old gate system, requiring immediate technical intervention.

Instead of opting for quick, piecemeal repairs, the authorities took a definitive, long-term safety decision to completely replace all 33 ridge gates with brand new, high-quality steel structures to ensure reliable regulation and operational reliability during the monsoon.

Interstate lifeline

The Tungabhadra reservoir remains a vital interstate lifeline serving agricultural command areas across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Millions of farmers rely heavily on the Left Bank Canal, the Right Bank Canal, and the interconnected distribution systems for irrigation, while several municipalities depend on it for their drinking water supply.

Senior officials noted that the completion of this gateway replacement well in advance of heavy monsoon inflows serves as a major confidence booster for the region.

Not only does it enhance structural safety, it also highlights excellent coordination among states in managing shared water resources, ensuring that the reservoir is fully prepared to safely handle the coming seasonal inflows.

Published – 24 Jun 2026 19:45 IST