SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2007 Edition

 

 

 

ASHOK Tungal a civil engineer, was the technical genius behind the 430 metre historic people's barrage built at Chikkapadasalagi across the Krishna at Jamakhandi in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka in 1987. His barrage has inspired people to build another three barrages across the Ghataprabha river. The one at Mudhol, for instance, is 390 feet long and 12 feet high. It has cost Rs 40 lakhs and was completed in just 92 days. If the government had built it, the barrage would have cost Rs 1.2 crore and taken at least three or four years to complete.

Tungal’s success lies in identifying a suitable site that requires a minimum foundation. He uses locally available materials and most importantly he relies on people's participation. Since the beneficiaries take part in the construction of the barrage, quality never suffers. One instance of his common sense approach was illustrated in the construction of the Mudhol barrage. Granite stone had to be brought from a site located from far away. Tungal suggested using granite that was locally available. The government engineers who had to give permission didn’t agree. He was undeterred.

He took them to a nearby place where the British had used this stone for a bridge which is still standing strong. The experts, when they saw this, finally gave the green signal.

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