Almatti dam level dips below dead storage
Last Updated IST
The water level in Almatti dam has fallen below the dead storage mark.Water is being released at present only to meet the drinking water requirements. DH PHOTO
Water in the Almatti dam has fallen to alarming levels, 4 feet below the dead storage mark. The water stored in the reservoir is now 3 tmc feet less than its dead storage capacity.
Usually, the water in the dam touches the dead storage at this time of the year. But this year, the situation is worse. Though water has not been released this time for non-drinking purposes, evaporation is causing depletion in the water level.
The dead storage level of the reservoir is 506.87 metres and Tuesday’s level was 505.66 metres. The maximum level of the reservoir is 519.6 metres. The dam had 14.3 tmc feet of water on Tuesday against the dead storage capacity of 17.82 tmc feet. The dead storage for any reservoir is fixed as per the guidelines of the Central Water Commission and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, keeping in mind factors like the safety of the structure.
Water is released for irrigation and other uses only till the dead storage mark. But this time, the level is being breached to meet the drinking water needs. The dam is meeting the drinking water requirements of the districts of Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Raichur as also those of some parts of Telangana and Maharashtra. But it is said that the dipping water level may threaten the lives of aquatic creatures, especially due to the hot weather.
Usually, the water in the dam touches the dead storage at this time of the year. But this year, the situation is worse. Though water has not been released this time for non-drinking purposes, evaporation is causing depletion in the water level.
The dead storage level of the reservoir is 506.87 metres and Tuesday’s level was 505.66 metres. The maximum level of the reservoir is 519.6 metres. The dam had 14.3 tmc feet of water on Tuesday against the dead storage capacity of 17.82 tmc feet. The dead storage for any reservoir is fixed as per the guidelines of the Central Water Commission and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, keeping in mind factors like the safety of the structure.
Water is released for irrigation and other uses only till the dead storage mark. But this time, the level is being breached to meet the drinking water needs. The dam is meeting the drinking water requirements of the districts of Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Raichur as also those of some parts of Telangana and Maharashtra. But it is said that the dipping water level may threaten the lives of aquatic creatures, especially due to the hot weather.