Mandya: The water level at the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir has fallen to an alarming 76.9ft against a capacity of 124.80ft. Bengaluru, Mandya and Mysuru which depend heavily on the Cauvery, could be staring at a drinking water crisis if the level falls below 74ft. The corresponding water level in 2015 was 104.58ft.
Authorities in the irrigation department said the total quantity of water in the reservoir currently stood at 9.484tmcft, of which 1.105tmcft could be used for drinking and agrarian purposes. The remaining 8.379tmcft constitutes dead storage, which cannot be utilised. The bleak prospects have left farmers a distressed lot.
Rainfall in the river's catchment areas has resulted in a sharp increase in water inflow to the reservoir - from a meagre 300 cusecs last week to more than 4,000 cusecs since Sunday - has brought some cheer to farmers and officials in the irrigation department. But they fear the situation could get worse if the inflow decreases. On Monday, the water inflow was 4,246 cusecs. The authorities, who were pumping nearly 5,00 0 cusecs into the irrigation canals till Sunday, however, had to restrict the total outflow from the reservoir to 206 cusecs on Monday.
Besides releasing water for irrigational and drinking purposes, officials of the irrigation department also have the added burden of having to release water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, in accordance with the order of the Supreme Court. However, if the neighbouring state receives good rainfall during the northeast monsoon, it would considerably ease the pressure on Karnataka.
Admitting that they faced an uphill task of preserving the depleting water reserves till the end of summer, a senior official with the department said, "The situation could turn disastrous if there is a drastic reduction in inflow," he added. With the department not pumping water into the irrigation canals from Sunday owing to the paucity of water, the farmers are staring at the prospect of losing their paddy crop. However, another irrigation department official pointed out that the problem could be averted if the rate of inflow remains high.
"Though we can draw water from the dead storage, it would be very hazardous from the point of view of the reservoir's safety," said a source in the irrigation department.
Authorities in the irrigation department said the total quantity of water in the reservoir currently stood at 9.484tmcft, of which 1.105tmcft could be used for drinking and agrarian purposes. The remaining 8.379tmcft constitutes dead storage, which cannot be utilised. The bleak prospects have left farmers a distressed lot.
Rainfall in the river's catchment areas has resulted in a sharp increase in water inflow to the reservoir - from a meagre 300 cusecs last week to more than 4,000 cusecs since Sunday - has brought some cheer to farmers and officials in the irrigation department. But they fear the situation could get worse if the inflow decreases. On Monday, the water inflow was 4,246 cusecs. The authorities, who were pumping nearly 5,00 0 cusecs into the irrigation canals till Sunday, however, had to restrict the total outflow from the reservoir to 206 cusecs on Monday.
Besides releasing water for irrigational and drinking purposes, officials of the irrigation department also have the added burden of having to release water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, in accordance with the order of the Supreme Court. However, if the neighbouring state receives good rainfall during the northeast monsoon, it would considerably ease the pressure on Karnataka.
Admitting that they faced an uphill task of preserving the depleting water reserves till the end of summer, a senior official with the department said, "The situation could turn disastrous if there is a drastic reduction in inflow," he added. With the department not pumping water into the irrigation canals from Sunday owing to the paucity of water, the farmers are staring at the prospect of losing their paddy crop. However, another irrigation department official pointed out that the problem could be averted if the rate of inflow remains high.
"Though we can draw water from the dead storage, it would be very hazardous from the point of view of the reservoir's safety," said a source in the irrigation department.