Bokaro Deputy Commissioner Kuldeep Choudhary inspected Tenughat Dam on Saturday afternoon to assess the situation after several days of incessant rains lashing the district. Chaudhary saw the water pressure on the dam. He said that the water can rise further, due to which more gates of the dam may also have to be opened.
He asked the Block Development Officers of Bermo, Petarwar and other related blocks to mark shelter homes, ensure arrangements for medicines, food packets etc. to the villagers. He asked the District Disaster Management Department to be in alert mode and ensure other necessary preparations in time.
DC also asked the concerned officials of the dam present on the spot to get permission from the sub-divisional officer Bermo before opening the gate.
He was accompanied by Sub-Divisional Officer Bermo Ananth Kumar, Petarwar BDO Shailendra Kumar Chaurasia, Bermo BDO Madhu Kumari, District Disaster Manager Shakti Kumar, Local Executive Engineer among others.
On his visit at Tenughat dam, Chaudhary held a meeting with all officials of Bermo sub-division at the sub-divisional office. He gave many important directions to the officers present in the meeting. He asked the officials to immediately inform the district administration about any situation.
Damodar River continues to flow near the danger mark in Bokaro as the incessant rainfall since past three of days across Bokaro district increased the water levels into several water bodies, dams and rivers. The officials have warned all residents living close to the riverbanks to move to safer and higher places,
While the Bermo block development officer Madhu Kumari sent a voice message appealing people to be careful. She issued a warning against going close to water bodies as water level has increased in the Tenughat dam as well as in the rivers. A sudden release of more water from the reservoir of the dam may happen any time, the warning states. The district administration is continuously monitoring from the district control room so that there is no danger of any kind.
Six gates of the dam were opened on the night of July 30 after a sudden increase in water pressure in Tenughat dam in Bokaro district. Due to this, the possibility of flooding in the low-lying areas of both the banks of the Damodar river cannot be ruled out.
“The capacity of the reservoir of Tenughat Dam is to hold the water level at a maximum of 852 feet but now the water level has increased, rushed to 844.35 feet,” said a district administrative official.
The Garga River is at its peak and it continues to flow near the danger mark in Bokaro. The Bokaro Steel Plant’s administration has warned all residents living close to the riverbanks to move to safer and higher places.