Water release from KRS halted to 'protect' canals

The outflow from the KRS reservoir in the taluk has been stopped since Monday night in a bid to prevent possible damage to the canals, following heavy rain in the vicinity of the reservoir.

Sources in the Cauvery Neeravari Nigama said the area received 144 mm of rainfall. Releasing water to the river basin may leave the canals flooded and they may breach, the officials said. Water release from the reservoir has been stopped as a precautionary measure, they said.

Crops washed away

However, much damage has been done despite the precautionary measure. Paddy crop in more than 350 acres was washed away after three canals breached in the KRS command area, following heavy rain Monday night.

The right bank canal gave way at the eighth mile in Belagola, while the pathway on the left side of the canal collapsed to ground level. Water from the right bank canal flooded the Virija canal, breaching the pathway at five places at Naguvanahalli, Brahmapura, Palahalli and the Ranganathittu bird sanctuary. The pathway at the ninth mile has suffered more damage. The Devaraya canal also breached in the fourth mile and water flooded the paddy crop.

Coconut and arecanut farms were flooded near Belagola. Road traffic was affected between Mysore and KRS, due to the flooding. The  breaching of canals affected movement of vehicles on the Naguvanahalli-Srirangapatna road till 10 am on Tuesday. A few temples were also inundated.

MLA Ramesh Bandisiddegowda, Deputy Commissioner B N Krishnaiah and others visited the affected areas.

Krishnaiah said the exact figure of the losses would be known after a survey by a team of the officials of the revenue, irrigation, horticulture and public works departments.

Vijaykumar, the executive engineer of the Nigama, said the breached canals would be repaired within a week.