Kolhapur/Ratnagiri, Jul 7: Ahead of demolishing the portion of the overflowing Panderi dam, the Ratnagiri administration on Wednesday issued a high alert for the inhabitants of the Mandnagad tehsil.
The demolition move comes after two days of relentless efforts of trying to stop leakage from the dam’s wall which cracked on July 5.
With the threat of gushing waters breaking the wall and flooding the dam’s environs, the administration started the repair work on war-footing.
It scrambled hundreds of laborers and a fleet of JCBs, tractors, and dumpers to prevent leakage. As all the efforts went futile, the authorities took the demolition decision as a last resort.
The decision—taken by Collector Laxminarayan Mishra in consensus with the Irrigation Department—aims to reduce the high water pressure by blasting the damaged wall portion.
If all goes as planned, the exodus of water, resulting from the blast, will flow into the Savitri river.
Sensing the gravity of the operation, District Superintendent of Police Dr Mohite Garg along with senior cops have reached the spot.
Also, hundreds of constables and the NDRF teams have been stationed around the dam which is filled to its capacity of 118.60 meters.
They are strapped with life-saving materials like fiber boats, life jackets, searchlights, and stretchers.
A total of 17 villages have been asked to remain alert, Tehsildar Narayan Vengurlekar stated, adding that near 200 people have been shifted to the ZP schools. (UNI)