JOIN USThe much awaited rains are here and the Cauvery basin is flush with life. But the reservoirs that serve as the lifeline to not just farmers and residents of this belt, but also the State capital, Bangalore, continue to remain parched.
Though the catchment areas of KRS, Kabini, Hemavathy and Harangi have been receiving above normal rainfall in the last three days, there has been no discharge to the reservoirs yet. Wayanad (in the KRS catchment), which had received deficit rainfall by 78 per cent till May 30, however witnessed a heavy downpour during the weekend. On Sunday, Wayanad recorded 78 mm rainfall.
Normal rainfall for the KRS catchment between May 28 and June 3 is 27 mm. The catchment has received 61.8 mm rainfall during the said period. Kodagu district that also serves as a catchment for both KRS and Harangi reservoirs has received 64.1 mm (normal 42 mm) rain. Kodagu is likely to receive good rain on June 7, 8 and 9. Sakleshpur and Chikmagalur, which serve as the catchment for Hemavathy reservoir, too received good rains.
Supply stopped
Currently, the water level at KRS stands at 64.74 ft. There is an inflow of only 400 cusecs, while the outflow is 881 cusecs. Sources in the Water Resources department said water flow to Bangalore was stopped on June 2. The outflow on June 1 was 1,105 cusecs, but it came down to 887 cusecs on June 2.
The level at Kabini stands at 2,246.98 ft. While the inflow was 1,943 cusecs, the outflow was 100 cusecs (100 cusecs of water is being released for drinking water needs of Mysore only, ever since the levels reached dead storage at the reservoir almost a month ago).
Coastal region
Heavy showers that lashed Dakshina Kannada district on Sunday were on the decline on Monday. Low-lying areas like Jeppinamogaru and Kallapu were inundated following artificial floods. The district received an average of 35 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours. Udupi district recorded an average rainfall of 65.7 mm in the last 24 hours.
North Karnataka
People in certain parts of Mumbai Karnataka region are still waiting for the onset of monsoon. But, Bijapur, Belgaum, Haveri and Uttara Kannada districts in the region received copious rains.
The drought-hit people in the region are hopeful of a good rainy season at least this time. On Monday, rainfall was reported from Sindhagi and surrounding areas in Bijapur district, Nippani and nearby villages in Belgaum district, Ranebennur and surrounding areas in Haveri district. It drizzled throughout the day in Uttara Kannada district on Monday.