Water glory returns to Bharachukki, Gaganachukki falls

It’s bounty time for the Bharachukki and Gaganachukki waterfalls, which come under Kollegal taluk of Chamarajanagar and Mandya districts, respectively.

There has been no rain in the falls area for the past three months. But the incessant rain in the catchment area of River Cauvery in the last few days has led to copious flow in the river and glory returning to the two waterfalls.

Tourists and picnickers are making a beeline for the falls to enjoy the visual treat that they have turned into.

Though Gaganachukki comes under Mandya district, one can get a better view from the dargah area of Kollegal taluk. The roads leading to the two waterfalls are chock-a-block with vehicles taking visitors to the vantage positions to view them.

Steps have been built to take visitors close to the spot where water cascades down from the rocks.

The authorities have banned boating and swimming near the Bharachukki Falls as a precautionary measure. A few adventurous youth are climbing the slippery spot from where water jumps down.

There is the danger of them slipping and falling into the river down below and getting washed away.

Though a 1.5-km wall has been constructed to prevent people from venturing anywhere near the falls, many climb over the wall and reach the danger spot.

The district administration had announced that it would appoint ‘green police’ to prevent youth from going to these spots. But the promise is yet to be fulfilled.

The Kollegal forest division, under which Bharachukki Falls come, has banned plastic  in the vicinity. But the ban has been in force more in the breach.

One can see plastic bottles and other items being strewn everywhere around the Bharachukki and Gaganachukki Falls.

Environmentalists have urged that the district administrations, the forest and the tourism departments take steps to enforce ban on plastic in the area.

Twin dams in Shimoga full

The twin dams built across the River Sharavati at Chakra and Savehaklu in Hosanagar taluk of Shimoga district have filled to the brim, for the sixth time in a gap of 32 years.

Incessant rain for the past ten days in the basin of Sharavati has also cheered the monsoon trekkers with its splendid falls down the hills.

According to sources in the Karnataka Power Corporation, water has been released from the twin dams.

Besides, saddle dam built across Sharavati in Savehakkalu is also full to its maximum capacity and water gushing out from the dam renders a spectacular view.

With Hosanagar, Tirthahalli and Sagar taluks receiving copious rains in the past 24 hours, water level in Linganamakki reservoir rose to 1793.30 ft against its capacity of 1819 ft, with an inflow of 45,180 cusec.

Bhadra reservoir too registered increase in the water level to 163.5 ft against the maximum level of 186 ft. The inflow is 20,600 cusec and the outflow 2,995 cusec.

Tunga reservoir is 0.58 ft short of its maximum level of 588 ft.