JOIN USTaps won't go dry as yet in Bangalore
The below average storage in the Krishnarajasagar (KRS) reservoir this year has set alarm bells ringing in Bangalore, which gets much of its drinking water supply from there.
With monsoon playing hide-and-seek, there are fears that the situation may worsen.
But officials at the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam have allayed the fears. They say there is nothing to worry as far as supply of water to Bangalore is concerned.
At least, not yet. The water level is well within “safe limits,” so that supply can be maintained to the State capital not only for now, but for the next three months. By then, they hope, there will be sufficient rain in the Cauvery river catchment area and the dam is filled.
However, if the monsoon indeed fails, not only will Bangalore be hit, but water supply will go haywire in Mysore and Mandya too.
Right now, the real sufferers of the dry spell are farmers as no water will be released to the canals in the present situation, over the next few weeks.
The water level in the KRS and Kabini reservoirs, which quench the thirst of Mysore, Bangalore and all villages in between, continues to be in the “safe zone”.
The water level in KRS is 75.33 tmc feet against a maximum of 124.80 feet. It was 112.95 feet during the corresponding period last year.
Water can be drawn only for drinking purpose after the level dips below 74 feet. Irrigation will not get water from that point onwards. Drinking water can be drawn till the level reaches 55 feet.
Agriculture activities can pick up only if the inflow into the reservoir increases, with adequate rain in the catchment areas. This is no ‘challenging’ time yet, say the officials.
They have seen the water level dip to 67 tmc feet during the corresponding period in 2007.
But, the storage was boosted within just a week, following copious rain in Kodagu, the catchment area for the reservoir.
In 2003, the KRS water level had touched 63 tmc feet. But the storage improved drastically following rains in Kodagu and Kerala.
But the worries are far from over this year. Kodagu and Kerala have not received adequate rainfall, which alone can guarantee uninterrupted water supply. The monsoon is said to be advancing at a slow pace this year.
The water level at Kabini reservoir was 80.30 tmc feet during the corresponding period last year, but has plummeted to 70.78 tmc feet this time.
The maximum level of the dam is 84 tmc feet. Water can be drawn for drinking purposes from Kabini till it reaches 66 tmc feet.
While there are apprehensions regarding monsoon itself, the cities can best exercise restraint in spending water and pray for copious rain.