Full for record 172 days, water level at Krishna Raja Sagar dam starts depleting

Mysuru: The water level at Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir in the Cauvery River basin, in Madnya's Srirangapatna taluk which had been full (up to 124 feet) for a record of 172 days from July 21, 2024, till January 12, 2025, has started depleting.

From the year 2000, it has been full for a highest of 146 days in 2009, according to Cauvery Neeravari Nigam officials.

The water level at KRS dropped to 122.24 ft against its capacity of 124.80 ft on January 20. It was 124.04 feet on January 12.

On January 20, all dams in the Cauvery basin had 78 per cent water and they had a total of 89.02 TMC ft of water, compared to their gross capacity of 114.57 TMC ft.

The KRS Dam had 45.952 of water (93 per cent) and it stood at its optimum capacity of 122.24 ft. Kabini had 17.145 TMC ft of water (88 per cent), against its capacity of 19.52 TMC ft, and stood at 2280.17 ft against its capacity of 2284 ft.

Hemavathi had 22.150 TMC ft (60 per cent) against its capacity of 37.10 TMC ft and stood at 2903.67 ft, against its capacity of 2922 ft. Harangi had 3.775 TMC ft (44 per cent) against its capacity of 8.50 TMC ft, and stood at 2836.23 ft against its capacity of 2859 feet, according to the data provided by Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre.

The dams had of 49.17 TMC ft water on the corresponding day, last year including 17.42 TMC ft in KRS, 15.01 TMC ft in Hemavathi, 13.31 TMC ft in Kabini, and 3.42 TMC ft in Harangi.

Karnataka received 30 per cent excess northeast monsoon (NEM) rains of 237.8 mm, compared to the normal average of 182.2 mm from October to December 2024. There was 45 per cent excess rain in south interior Karnataka and 42 per cent excess rain in Malnad region, including the Cauvery basin.

Karnataka received 15 per cent excess southwest monsoon (SWM) showers from June to September 2024. There was 11 per cent excess SWM rainfall in south interior Karnataka and 13 per cent excess rain in Malnad region, including the Cauvery catchment area.

Reportedly, at KRS Dam, from the year 2000, the highest optimum water level recorded at KRS was for 114 days in 2022; 59 days in 2021; 86 days in 2020; 105 days in 2019; 104 days in 2018; 98 days in 2014; 62 days in 2013; 90 days in 2011; 47 days in 2010; 146 days in 2009; 43 days in 2008; 128 days in 2007; 37 days in 2006; and 96 days in 2005.

With no balancing reservoir in the downstream of Cauvery basin to store excess water and with good SWM and NEM showers, reportedly 282.241 TMC ft of Cauvery water has reached Biligundlu in Tamil Nadu, till the end of December 2024.

Karnataka was supposed to release 177 TMC ft of Cauvery water by the end of the water year (June 2024-May 2025) as per the orders of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee and final order of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal.