Water level decreases drastically in Harangi reservoir

Farmers worried over crop as water release is stopped

The farmers in the catchment area of Harangi Reservoir are worried in the backdrop of the Supreme Court directing Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs water for six days to Tamil Nadu. With the deficit rainfall in the catchment area, the inflow of water to the reservoir has declined drastically.

The water from Harangi reservoir meets irrigation needs of 1,34,895 acres of land in Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu, Periyapatna, Hunsur taluks in Mysuru and Arkalagud taluks in Hassan districts. The authorities have stopped the release of water to the left and right hand canals of Harangi reservoir from the last three days. The farmers cultivate jowar, ginger, ragi, tobacco and paddy in the region. With rain playing a hide and seek game and stopping the release of water to the canals, the farmers are in despair.  

The water level in Harangi reservoir had increased slightly as the catchment area received moderate rainfall. The total storage capacity of the reservoir is 8.5 tmcft. There was 6.08 tmcft water on Friday morning. The inflow of water was 2,400 cusecs, said Reservoir Executive Engineer Dharmaraj.

The farming activities in the irrigated area is generally completed by December. Till then, water needs to be released through canals. The sowing of paddy in the region has been completed—which requires a huge quantity of water to survive. With the authorities stopping the release of water, the paddy will start drying, said farmers.