Drying KRS may spell trouble for B'lore

Water at the reservoir will hit dead storage level in less than a week

Is Bangalore staring at its worst water crisis? If the rains fail this May, then it is. The water level at Krishnarajasagar will hit the dead storage level (60 feet) in less than a week.

The water level in KRS now stands at 66.6 feet as opposed to last year's 88.96 ft for the corresponding period. The State government is all set to draw water from Hemavathy reservoir to supply water to Bangalore and Mysore cities. But this too might not really ease the situation, opine officials. About three-quarters of the 3.5 tmcft water stored at Hemavathy reservoir has already been utilised.

If water from both KRS and Hemavathy were to be released “conservatively/judiciously,” even then Bangalore and Mysore might face difficulties, added officials. The onset of monsoon is expected only by June 10. KRS saw an inflow of 333 cusecs and an outflow of 647 cusecs on Saturday. Last year, for the corresponding period, the inflow was 1,394 cusecs, while the outflow was 896 cusecs.

20 to 30-day supply

Gaurav Gupta, Chairperson of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, said the water supply could be ‘managed’ for another 20 to 30 days.

“The problem is of calamitous proportions, and a situation like this has never arisen before. Water availability is limited. We can tide through another 20 to 30 days. It is true that we are cutting it too fine. The matter has been reviewed at the Chief Secretary level, and measures have been put in place.

“The Water Resources department has been monitoring the water levels every day and it has assured BWSSB that at least 600 cusecs of water will be supplied to Bangalore everyday until the monsoon arrives,” he said.

Contingency plans

Sathya Murthy D, Principal Secretary, Water Resources department said they had already put in a contingency plan in the event that rains fail.

“But there is nothing to be worried about. One spell of good rains this month will ease the situation significantly. The department has been preparing itself to face this situation from January itself. There is no need to panic, as strategic arrangements have been put in place,” he explained.

Given the fact that Karnataka is going for polls on Sunday, no official wants to spell out what these “plans/arrangements” are.