Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, July 1: Authorities have confirmed that major dams in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are structurally sound and pose no safety threat at present, even amid the ongoing monsoon.

According to officials, regular maintenance is carried out across all critical dam infrastructure. “The Thumbe vented dam, being relatively new, has not shown any signs of cracks or structural weakness. We’ve written to a Bengaluru-based government agency to carry out a detailed safety inspection,” said an executive engineer from the Mangaluru City Corporation. He added that a retaining wall has been built and stop-log gates installed to serve as a backup in case of main gate failure.

The AMR dam, managed by the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) and with a storage capacity of 12.5 million cubic metres at 18.9 metres, has also been declared structurally safe.

Officials from the irrigation department have also confirmed that the Harekala dam, constructed just a few years ago, is in stable condition.

Other vital structures, such as the Jakribettu bridge-cum-barrage in Bantwal and the Saralikatte dam across the Nethravati near Uppinangady, undergo quarterly maintenance checks to ensure ongoing safety.

“There are 471 major and minor vented dams in Dakshina Kannada alone, and none have reported damage from sand mining or other causes,” said an executive engineer from the district irrigation department.

The Mani dam, built across the Varahi River in 1989 and maintained by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), is also reported to be in good condition. “The dam is under continuous monitoring, and maintenance is well supported by budgetary allocations,” a KPCL official stated.