JOIN USDepleting water level in Hemavathi reservoir near Gorur in the beginning of summer has caused a concern.
Water level in the reservoir on March 26 last year was 19.59 tmc while it is only 6.3 tmc this year. The inflow and outflow has also come down with only 100 cusec of water being discharged this year against the 3,450 cusec in the corrresponding period last year.
Besides, water has not been discharged to canals since Januanry 19, leaving thousands of acres of fields dependent on Hemavati water parched.
Chief Executive Engineer G T Venkatesh said: “The farmers are aware of the water crisis and hence, are not pressing for discharge of river water to the canals. If the water is supplied for irrigation, people in Hassan district will not have water to drink.”
The inflow has come down to mere 27 cusec, a scenario akin to that in 2002 and 2003, said the officials.
As the district didn’t receive enough rain in November last year, water level has come down, said Venkatesh.
The inflow was a maximum of 17,000 cusec only for a couple of days in September. The low level water in the reservoir has also affected the power generation. Of three power grids, only one is functioning.