Distress started developing in the form of wetness and seepage on the downstream face of the dam from initial filling onwards. Seepages through the body of the dam increased continuously causing fear in the minds of British engineers. For controlling the seepage, the authorities treated the upstream face of the dam by guniting and the inside dam body by grouting. Guniting was done on the upstream face above 112 feet during the period 1930–1935. Cement grouting work was carried out on two occasions, viz, 1922-1935 and 1961-1965. The total quantity of cement consumed during these two grouting operations was 543 tonnes. Records show that lime leached out from the body of the dam during its life till date is many times more than the above quantity. The leaching has naturally reduced the density of the materials and hence the total weight of the dam.
As can be seen now, in many areas on the upstream face of the dam plastering has peeled off and mortar in the joints of rubble masonry washed away exposing hollow spaces. The condition of the upstream face below 112 ft where no guniting could be carried out due to the continuous presence of water would be much worse than this.
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