Linganamakki dam level crosses 1,800 feet

The water level in the Linganamakki reservoir in Sagar taluk, which is considered the lifeline of hydro power in the state, is racing towards the maximum level.

It was 1,803.6 feet at 8 am on July 24, just 16 feet from the brim.

Sources in the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited confirmed that this was the first time in the last three years that the water level crossed 1,800 feet. This is also the first time in the last three years that the reservoir has reached 75% of its maximum capacity in July.

The level was 1,777.2 feet on the same day last year. The inflow of water was 41,028 cusecs and outflow 1,366.83 cusecs. In just 22 days, the level has risen by 30 feet. The water is likely to reach the maximum level by the month-end.

Ever since the Linganamakki reservoir was constructed in 1964, the dam has reached full level only 13 times and the previous occasion was in 2014.

Linganamakki reservoir provides water to the Sharavathi generating station, having an installed capacity of 1,035 MW (10 units). The Linganamakki dam powerhouse, with two units, has an installed capacity of 55 MW.

To further tap the potential of the Sharavathi river, KPCL has installed at the Gerusoppa dam four generating units of 60 MW each (totalling 240 MW).

Speaking to DH over the phone, KPCL chief engineer (electricity) Mohan Kumar said, following the poor demand for hydro power, only seven million to eight million units of power is being generated at the Sharavathi generating station. So, the state is unlikely to face power crunch during summer.