JOIN US'Bagina' to Cauvery; not just yet!
On Thursday, the water level at the reservoir stood at 117 ft, seven feet short of the brim. Insufficient rain in the catchment area has meant unsatisfactory inflow of water into KRS. The tradition, started by R Gundu Rao while he was the Chief Minister in the early 80s, has been practised whenever rains have provided the river with copious water. Thousands of farmers of both Mysore and Mandya districts depend on the river for irrigating lands and for drinking water.
“No doubt, the dam’s level is around 117 ft but, we cannot hold the function as it amounts to breaking the 30-year tradition”, the officer added.
Since 2000, the thanks giving offering was not made in two years - 2002 and 2003 by then chief Minister S M Krishna when the entire State reeled under drought, an officer of Department of Water Resources, told Deccan Herald.
In the recent past, no Chief Minister has offered the bagina after June-July when the dam usually reaches the maximum level. But in 2007, then Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy offered the bagina in the third week of August, as the monsoon was delayed. If the KRS dam brims this year, Yeddyurappa will be creating a record by making the votive offering in the last week of September.
“Nothing can be predicted now. If cyclone hits, naturally heavy rains pound Kodagu district and then there will be sudden increase in inflow of water into KRS Dam.
No matter when the dam reaches its maximum level, the incumbent Chief Minister will offer the bagina to the river”, the officer remarked.
DH News Service