JOIN USSharavathi struggles to meet State's power demand
The water level in Linganamakki reservoir, located upstream the Sharavati project which caters to 26 per cent of the power needs of the State was 1,759.85 feet on Wednesday, which is 18 per cent of the total storage capacity. Last year, the reservoir had 1,776.90 feet water on the same day. The average inflow to the reservoir by the middle of July will be 40,000 cusec against which it was just 2,743 cusec on Wednesday.
The Sharavati project which used to generate 5 - 7 million units (MU) in July of every year has been asked to contribute 15-16 MU now. RTPS is contributing 15 MU now against the average of 28.30 MU. Normally, power consumption reduces in monsoon significantly as farmers do not use irrigation pumpsets. However, farmers are relying on irrigation pumpsets even in July this year due to scanty rains.
Chief Engineer of KPCL Hanumanthappa told Deccan Herald that Sharavati generated 16.53 MU of power on Wednesday including 2.88 lakh MU from Linganamakki station, 8.56 lakh MU from Gerusoppa station, 14.64 MU from Sharavati station and 7.52 MU from Mahatma Gandhi station.
An average of 15 MU is generated at Sharavati project from past five days to make good the shortfall. KPC officials have informed that power generation is possible for 50 days with the present water storage.
The rainfall in the district is below average this year. The average rain in the district till July 14 is 4,539 mm against which 943.8 mm has been received so far. Agumbe known as Cherrapunji of South has received 623.2 mm against the average 6,829.2 mm.
The storage in Bhadra reservoir also is poor. The water level in the reservoir was 152.9 feet on Wednesday against the maximum 186 feet. The inflow to Bhadra reservoir has depleted from 10,000 cusec to 2,363 cusec and that for Tunga reservoir from 40,000 cusec to 4,000 cusec. The standing crops in command area of Tunga and Bhadra reservoirs are likely to face shortage of water.