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Nineteen Years later…. Lessons learnt from Kantale Breach. D W R Weerakoon Former Director General of Irrigation. KANTALE IRRIGATION SCHEME. Constructed early 7 th Century Restored in 1875 - 37,124 Acft Augmented in 1954 - 87,750 Acft 1965 -110,000 Acft Data Height of Dam - 60’
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Nineteen Years later….Lessons learnt from Kantale Breach D W R Weerakoon Former Director General of Irrigation
KANTALE IRRIGATION SCHEME • Constructed early 7th Century • Restored in 1875 - 37,124 Acft Augmented in 1954 - 87,750 Acft 1965 -110,000 AcftData • Height of Dam -60’ • BTW - 28’-50’ • Side Slopes - 1:3 ~ 1:2.5 • FSD - 42’ • Spillway – Radial Gated 10/(15’WX8’H)
Kantale Dam Failure (Sunday 20th April 1986) • First information IE/Army /AGA • Warning the Public Police, Railway,CEB,NWS&DB • Efforts to reduce breach flow
Prior Warning of Failure Prior Observation of signs of warning – none Recent Prior inspection (24th Nov,1985) - 65 runnels on D/S bund slope -No seepage observed at 22’8’’ of water -Bund overgrown
Cause(s) of Failure • Failure of the LB sluice barrel • Deterioration of the sluice barrel • Effect of pile driving in close proximity for constructing the pump house
Damage Caused • Loss of Human life - Dead bodies found 68 - Persons missing 59 • No of families affected 2,035 • No of persons affected 10,864 • Houses damaged -Completely 592 -Partially 628 • Crop destroyed -Standing crops 2,502 Ac -Harvested 627 Ac
Some Issues Related to Kantale Breach • Observation of signs of prior warning ? • Equipped for satisfactory level of observation ? • Periodic Inspection - satisfactory ? • Standing Orders- Available ? Updated ? • Disaster management • Planned ? Awareness ? • Communication methods-satisfactory ? • Authority with the custodian of the reservoir ? • ……? ? ? ?
Post failure Action • Immediate inspection of 11 reservoirs by a team of specialists • Hazard Rating of Dams • ID Circular on regular inspection- check list & reports – 1986 June • Establishment of a dam Safety unit in ID – 1997 • Preparation of standing Orders • Dam Safety Project under Mahaweli restructuring Project
Dams Under ID Responsibility Total 281 Concrete Gravity 01 Earth 280 Large dams 54
Modes of Embankment Reservoirs Failure (Statistics– Global) Source: ICOLD
Issues for the Present & Future • Availability of Specialized Knowledge & Persons? • Prior Observations and capacity for inference ? - Training needs • Equipment for satisfactory level of observation? • Periodic Inspections/Follow up action ? • Preparation and updating of Standing Orders ? • Preparedness for Disaster management • Communication methods-satisfactory ? • Authority with the custodian of the reservoir ? • Adequacy of funds