Karnataka: Dam levels plummet, officials pin hopes on rain gods

Mysuru: Water levels in three reservoirs in the Cauvery catchment area have dropped further and are much lower compared to the levels on the same day the previous year.

The water level at the KRS dam is just five feet away from the dead storage level. According to met experts, South Interior Karnataka including the Cauvery catchment area has recorded less than 40 percent of the usual pre-monsoon showers and it is likely to receive only 50 to 60 percent in the remaining 15 days before the monsoon hits the state.

But there is hope with water department officials confident of managing the situation with the existing water for drinking in Mysuru, Bengaluru and Mandya and all villages en-route till June.

Also, met experts predict that South interior Karnataka including the Cauvery catchment area will receive 6 to 7 percent of extra rain from the South-West Monsoon which is likely to begin in June first week. 

Water level at KRS on Sunday, stood at 79.19 feet as against its capacity of 124.80 feet, the inflow was 163 cusecs and outflow was 304 cusecs. Last year on the same day, the water level stood at 83.70 feet.

Although the dead storage at KRS is 74 feet, water can be drawn upto a depth of 60 feet. If required, water can be drawn from Hemavathi reservoir too, KRS sources said.

At Hemavathi the water level on Sunday stood at 2863.33 feet as against its capacity of 2,922 feet. While the inflow was 223 cusecs, outflow was 125 cusecs. Last year on the same day, the water level was 2868.41 feet. Water can be drawn upto a depth of 2845 feet, Hemavathi reservoir sources said.

At Kabini, which is meeting the water requirements of Bengaluru now, the water level on Sunday stood at 2246.79 feet as against its capacity of 2,284 feet. While the inflow was 117 cusecs, outflow was 1000 cusecs. Last year on the same day, water level at Kabini was 2,262 feet. Water can be drawn upto 2,225 feet, reservoir sources said.

“Pre-monsoon showers will not make any difference in the levels at reservoirs, as the rain water will be absorbed by the dry soil. It will only recharge the soil. But this time, we are expecting the South-West Monsoon to be above normal at 106 per cent. While the normal  monsoon gives us 865mm of rain, as per the forecast, the monsoon is expected to touch 900mm this year. In South Interior Karnataka, the average rainfall is 450mm but this year, we can expect 480to 500mm, that is 6 to 7 per cent of additional rain,” Senior Meteorologist and Head of Agro-Meteorology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Prof M.G. Rajegowda told DC.