Irrigation Department is now battling problem of plenty due to overflowing dams in Nagpur District leading to opening of gates of Totladoh as well as that of Navegaon Khairy. While Totladoh sees massive inflow due to opening of gates of Machagora Dam in upstream of Pench river in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh that is battered by heavy rains.

Totladoh is the biggest dam in Vidarbha and its stock has crossed 96 per cent mark requiring lifting of its gates. The dam is situation at Navegaon Khairi and at 8.30 am its 14 gates from the 16 Radial gates were lifted by the administration. Pranay Nagdive, Deputy Divisional Engineer, Pench Project Complex, informed The Hitavada that water storage in dam reached 324.73 metres (136,008 Mm3) and hence 14 gates were lifted by .30 metres. Thereafter at 3 pm two gates were closed and at 4 pm two additional gates were also lowered.

At present 10 gates remain open by .30 metres and about 43.58 m3 water per second was released while inflow is of 504.44 M3 per second. By evening as the inflow from Machagora Dam reduced, 10 gates of Totlaodh were closed. Total storage level at Totladoh was 1,017 Mm3 and storage is being maintained at 95 to 96 per cent of its designed capacity.

Khairy gates opened: Meanwhile, gates of Kampti Khairy dam were also lifted leading to release of water in Kanhan river. By Saturday morning the water level in Kanhan is likely to rise and hence district administration has sounded alert in 60 villages where possibility of water inflow is possible.

Our Parsheoni corespondent adds: Officers of Pench Project Complex were engaged in intense discussion throughout the day exchanging data and then choosing opening the gates. All the ten gates at the dam were lifted on Friday morning as the water storage has crossed nearly 91 per cent mark. At time of lifting of gates the storage here was 169.39 Mm3.

Meanwhile lifting of gates of Totlaodh is now centre of attraction and visitors there has increased. It has turned into a tourist spot and people are visiting the area to have a first look at the outflow of water when the gates are lifted, said Nagdive.