Mysuru, 03 August (H.S.):
The Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir in Karnataka has witnessed a sharp rise in water storage following a revival of the southwest monsoon, with the reservoir level increasing by nearly 10 feet in just one week. The improved inflows from the Cauvery catchment have boosted water availability for irrigation and drinking water needs, bringing relief to farmers across the basin.
At 8 a.m. on Monday, the KRS reservoir in Mandya district recorded a water level of 100.34 feet against its full reservoir level of 124.80 feet. A week earlier, on July 27, the reservoir level stood at 91.70 feet, underscoring the impact of continuous rainfall in Kodagu and adjoining catchment areas.
The reservoir's inflow has risen dramatically over the past few days. It increased from 2,100 cusecs on July 27 to 7,058 cusecs by July 31 before crossing 20,000 cusecs on August 1. By Monday morning, inflows had surged to 32,048 cusecs, while the outflow was maintained at 1,821 cusecs, mainly for canal irrigation and drinking water supply.
The sharp rise has been driven by heavy rainfall in the Cauvery's upper catchment, particularly around Bhagamandala and other parts of Kodagu district, which have received widespread monsoon showers over the past several days.
The Harangi reservoir in Kodagu has also registered substantial inflows. On Monday, it received 11,646 cusecs of water, with an outflow of 10,750 cusecs. The reservoir's water level stood at 2,857.01 feet, just below its maximum capacity of 2,859 feet. By comparison, the outflow from Harangi on the corresponding day last year was only 3,000 cusecs, highlighting the significant improvement in storage this monsoon.
The healthy inflows into reservoirs across the Cauvery basin have strengthened water reserves and improved prospects for agriculture in the region. The enhanced storage has also eased immediate concerns over water availability, even as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu continue to closely monitor the Cauvery water-sharing situation.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
