Washing away drought memories

Farmers have intensified sowing, but more showers may spoil their efforts

It’s one of those years when the raingods have been more than generous. This has led to almost all the reservoirs brimming over.

While farmers can rest assured that there can be no drought this time, they may need to be wary of the possible floods ruining their crops. Danger also lurks for the countless who live on river banks without proper shelters

Two crops likely

The plentiful inflow into the Tungabhadra reservoir in Hospet has brought cheers to the farmers in the river’s basin region in the State as also that in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The early and heavy showers have kindled hope among the farmers that they can grow two crops this year.

A total of 15,000 cusecs of water was released, through the right bank and left bank canals, by lifting the 10 crest gates by one foot at 10 am on Monday.

The dam reached the maximum level only by August in the last couple of years. With the bountiful showers this year, the reservoir has filled up in July itself.

The water level stood at 1,631.65 feet against a maximum of 1,633 feet. The inflow was 85,248 cusecs, while the outflow was 10.239 cusecs.

In the 24 hours ending at 8 am on Monday, six tmc ft of water has flowed into the dam. With rainfall continuing, more water is expected to flow into the reservoir. Based on the inflow, more crest gates will be opened to let out excess water, said officials of the Tungabhadra Board.

However, the district administration and the taluk administration have not taken the necessary steps to alert people in the river basin, especially the tourism hub of Hampi, Kampli and Siraguppa, to move to safer places.

Belgaum awash with rains

Showers in the last 24 hours threw normal life out of gear in Belgaum city, with residents being forced to remain indoors. Kankumbi, the birthplace of River Malaprabha recorded 170.8 mm of rainfall.

Incessant rains in the catchment areas of River Krishna and its tributaries in Maharashtra have led to the release of more than one lakh cusecs of water into the State, resulting in the water levels of River Krishna rising by more than four feet in the past 24 hours.

Chikodi Assistant Commissioner Rudresh Ghali told Deccan Herald that the water inflow into the State from Maharashtra was 1.35 lakh cusecs on Monday.

The tributaries of Krishna like Doodhganga, Vedaganga and Panchaganga swelled and the waters flooded the fields along the banks of the rivers. Inflow into the State from the Chikale and Varana dams and the Rajapur barrage increased to one lakh cusecs on Monday. Inflow of water into River Krishna near the Kudachi bridge was 1.43 lakh cusecs and the discharge from the Hipparagi barrage was 1.10 lakh cusecs.

The increasing water levels in River Krishna has created a flood-like situation in Raibag taluk and it is feared that the Kudachi bridge may get submerged post midnight on Monday.

The Jatrat-Bhiweshi, the Bhojwadi-Kunnar, the Akol-Sidnal, the Karadga-Bhoj, the Sadalga-Borgaon, the Mallikwad-Dattwad and the Kallol-Yadur bridges in Chikodi taluk were all submerged.

Heavy rains in Khanapur taluk led to the bridge across River Malaprabha connecting the Chikale-Parwad villages in Khanapur being washed away.

The western part of Khanapur taluk has been receiving heavy rains. Heavy rains submerged the Anjaneya temple at Habnatti village on the banks of River Malaprabha.
An old bridge across Khanapur town too has been submerged.

Rivers Malaprabha, Mahadayi, Pandari and Panchsheela are overflowing along with the Alatri, Kalasa, Banduri, Mangetri, Vajra, Pansori, Kumbar and Tatti nalas.

Power supply to Khanapur and its surrounding villages has been affected since Sunday with uprooted trees falling on electricity cables and damaging them.
Wet times for H-K

The Hyderabad-Karnataka (H-K) region received incessant rains, throwing life out of gear in the districts of Gulbarga, Yadgir, Bidar and Koppal on Monday.  

A total of 1.3 lakh cusecs of water flowed into the Basavasagar reservoir in Yadgir district, with a like amount being discharged into the river. The water level stood at 491.28 metres against a maximum of 492.25 metres.

Kodagu’s travails

With intermittent rainfall continuing to lash across Kodagu district, the district administration declared holidays for schools, colleges and anganwadi centres on Tuesday.

The surface of the earth has developed cracks on a one-kilometre stretch at Monnangeri, with the rising groundwater level. As a result, two houses have been damaged. The inmates have been shifted to safer places. Soil has caved in on several roads in the district. About 13 houses have been damaged in the last 24 hours in the district. Rivers Cauvery and Lakshmanateertha have reached the danger mark.

Crops endangered

Heavy rainfall threw normal life out of gear in Chikmagalur. Coffee and pepper growers are facing the threat of losing their crops.
The district has received an average of 933.4 mm rainfall since January. The normal rainfall during the period is 630 mm.

Sea erosion threat

Heavy rainfall that lashed Dakshina Kannada district receded on Monday. However, sea erosion has intensified at Yermal Thenka Gram Panchayat in Padubidri.

Trail of destruction

Rains continue to lash Davangere district for the fourth consecutive day on Monday. Following heavy rains in the catchment areas, the water level in the Bhadra reservoir has increased drastically.

The Tungabhadra river is overflowing in Honnali, Harihar and Harapanahalli taluks. Six villages in the district on the banks of the river were cut off from the rest of the world as roads and bridges were submerged. Several agriculture fields have been marooned. There has been waterlogging in many areas of Honnali town.