Water level up in TG Halli reservoir

 The Chamarajasagar reservoir at Thippagondanahalli on the outskirts of Bangalore, which is a major source of drinking water to the City has water up to 25 feet this time, following good rains in catchment areas.

The catchment areas of Devanahalli, Doddaballapur, Magadi and Nelamangala in Bangalore Rural and Ramanagra districts have received good rainfall as a result of which the inflow to the reservoir has increased. Usually, the Thippagondanahalli reservoir fills up in September, October and November.

 This year though, by mid August itself, the water level has risen up to 25 feet. The reservoir had only 15.9 ft of water during the corresponding period last year. The water level had come up to 25 ft only by mid September last year. 

The last time the reservoir was full was in 1992. Later, it had reached near its full capacity in 1998-99.  That year, the water level had reached 71 ft. The reservoir can hold up to 74 ft of water. In the last seven years though, the water level had not gone up beyond 43 ft. Owing to dip in the levels, it was not used for drinking water purpose. 

In case the reservoir fills up, Bangalore can get 135 million litres of drinking water every day. Expecting more rainfall this September, S Krishnappa, Chief Engineer, BWSSB, said they were exploring the possibility of pumping drinking water to the City from the reservoir this year. 

Until 1980, this was one of the main sources of drinking water to the city. More than one lakh families in and around Rajajinagar, Sunkadakatte, Vijayanagar localities benefited from the water in this reservoir.