MYSURU: Heavy rains continued to lash Kodagu for the sixth consecutive day and landslides were witnessed at few places. Indian Meteorological Department has issued orange alert to Kodagu for Wednesday too, and forecast 204.4 mm rainfall.
This year’s monsoon has led to landslides at various places leading to disruption of vehicular traffic. On NH 275 Mysuru-Bantwal Road that connects Kodagu with Mangaluru there was a landslide near Jodupala and twice near Made. The traffic movement was restored after clearing the debris.
There were landslides at Mandalpatti Road, Mannangeri road and Gaalibeedu Bellachchu road and they were later cleared for traffic. The road connecting Madikeri (Sampige Katte) to Abbe Falls had developed cracks, which was later rectified.
The monsoon has also led to loss of lives and damage of private property in many places. On July 8 a woman died after a tree fell on her at an estate in Karnangeri village and on May 31 a man died after an electric pole fell on his house. So far 75 houses have been damaged in Somwarpet Taluk.
Kodagu district administration is on alert and dealing with rain related emergencies on a war footing.
However, the current copious rainfall has not been enough to make up for the short fall in June. The levels of reservoirs have gone up hardly 10 feet.
The state received 30 percent deficit rainfall in June and in Malnad areas which constitute Cauvery catchment area, the shortfall was 46 percent.
The reservoirs in Cauvery basin were supposed to receive 31.5 TMC of inflow in June, but got hardly 3 TMC.
When the southwest monsoon reached the state on 14 June, water level at KRS was 80.26, as against its capacity 124.80 feet, Kabini was 2,256.26 feet as against its capacity 2,284 feet. And even on 30 June, the water level at KRS was 79.88 feet and Kabini was 2,257.48 feet.
With the monsoon becoming vigorous in July, water level at KRS on July 19 touched 90.05 feet and at Kabini it was 2,269.59 feet. The outflow from KRS to canals also increased. The outflow to river leading to Tamil Nadu from Kabini increased from 500 cusecs to 2,500 cusecs on July 19.
The farmers are upset over supply of water to Tamil Nadu amid shortfall in reservoirs. Under the aegis of Karnataka Federation of Farmers' Associations (KFFA), led by its head Kurbur Shanthakumar, they held a protest in Mysuru on Monday.
