Seepage in MP dam poses risk, prompts evacuation

Bhopal (IANS) The continued seepage of water from the newly-constructed Karam Dam in Madhya Pradesh has prompted the evacuation of 6,000 people from 18 villages, with officials concerned over the risk it poses.

State and Central government experts have been involved to find a solution to protect the dam and to save the lives of the residents of Dhar and Khargone districts.

According to official reports, two Air Force helicopters reached the spot late Friday.

At least three teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and seven from the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) have also been deployed for evacuation operation.

The evacuations started after authorities on Thursday noticed a massive soil erosion on the right flank of the dam due to which the seepage was continuing.

The length of the dam is 590 metres and the height is 53 metres and at present 15 mcm water is stored.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday that he has informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice about the dam's situation.

He said the only option to save the dam and to protect lives is to create an alternative passage to reduce water from the dam.

"I have spoken to Modi twice to inform him about the situation and rescue operations. The creation of an alternative passage to release water from dam is underway. Due to some hard rock, digging process is little bit slow, but several teams are trying to make a way to reduce the water as soon as possible," Chouhan said.

The construction of Karam Dam, estimated to be Rs 304 crore, had started around four years ago.

This was the first time that the reservoir of the dam was filled due to heavy rainfall in the western region of Madhya Pradesh, especially Dhar and Indore districts.