Reservoirs in Karnataka's Krishna and Cauvery basins clock copious inflows

The Lal Bahadur Shastri reservoir (Almatti) in Bagalkot taluk has been receiving copious inflows following heavy rain in its catchment areas in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. On Monday evening, the inlow into the dam has gone past 1 lakh cusec, the highest this season.

The reservoir, the lifeline of Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Yadgir and Raichur districts in the state, has received a staggering 8.25 tmcft of water in one single day on Monday. On Sunday evening, the Almatti reservoir had clocked 99,805 cusec inflow. The dam, as on June 23, has 76.47 tmcft of water as against its maximum capacity of 123.08 tmcft.

With a significant increase in inflows, the dam authorities released 70,000 cusec downstream from 18 crest gates.

The irrigation consultative committee (ICC) of Krishna basin will hold a meeting on the water release from Almatti and Narayanpur reservoirs in Bengaluru on July 1, according to Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigama Limited.

The four bridge-cum-barrages in Chikkodi sub-division are still submerged owing to the swollen Krishna river and its tributaries. Krishna river is in spate near Kallol-Yadur bridge due the relentless rain in the Konkan belt of Maharashtra and heavy discharges from Rajapur Barrage in Kolhapur district. The Dattatreya Temple on the confluence of Krishna and Panchaganga at Narsinhwadi on Karnataka-Maharashtra border has completely submerged.

Down south, the water level at Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS) dam has reached 119.40 feet as on June 22 owing to copious rains in its catchment. The reservoir is just 5.40 feet shy of reaching its maximum level. In the last 20 days, the dams in Cauvery river basin have received bountiful water- KRS received 18.9 tmcft, Kabini 14.6 tmcft, Hemavathi 8.4 tmcft and Harangi 5.1 tmcft.  

Meanwhile, Kodagu district continued to receive heavy showers on Monday. Most parts of the district have been receiving heavy rain, accompanied by gusty winds, since Sunday evening. The weather department has forecast heavy rain for Tuesday and issued an ‘orange alert’ for the hilly district.

On Monday, Bhagamandala received 140 mm of rain, Kodlipet recorded 100 mm while Srimangala, Napoklu and Sampaje witnessed 90 mm of rain.

After a brief lull, rains resumed in Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts on Monday.

Many parts of north and south interior Karnataka witnessed overcast conditions with intermittent spells of light showers