Villagers downstream in fear over leak in Singatalur dam in Karnataka

The villagers alleged that the dam was not being properly maintained by the authorities and said even the cables and wheels of the weirs were rusted.

However, officials described the villagers' allegations as baseless and said steps had been taken to plug the leak.

Water from this dam is supplied to the towns of Huvinahadagali and Koppal in Vijayanagar district, Yelburga in Koppal district, the twin towns of Gadag-Betageri in Gadag district and several villages in Mundargi taluk.

If the water outflow is not stopped, some villages and agricultural fields below the dam will soon be flooded, villagers said.

An official from the Mundargi division of Singatalur Dam said, “Out of the 26 weirs, only a few are leaking. We have invited tenders for repair and maintenance work worth Rs 50 crore. The work will begin after this monsoon.”