In the span of a week, water level in the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir in Mandya district of Karnataka, across the river Cauvery, has gone up by nearly 12 feet. On August 3, the water level breached the 100-foot mark against the maximum level of 124.80 feet with the inflow remaining steady following incessant rain in its catchment areas.
The water-level was 102.09 feet at 8 p.m. on August 3.
On July 27, the reservoir level was 91.70 feet, and the rate of inflow was 2,100 cusecs. The inflow has improved since July 31 rising to 7,058 cusecs, with the dam level rising by over a foot. The inflow crossed 20,000 cusecs on August 1, and 30,000 cusecs on August 3 following heavy rains in parts of Kodagu, including Bhagamandala, that constitute the catchment area for the Cauvery river.
The inflow was 32,149 cusecs at 8 p.m. on August 3 while the outflow was 1,884 cusecs, including for canal and drinking water supply.
The revival of monsoon and improved storage levels in reservoirs across the Cauvery basin has brought much-needed relief to farmers, even as the ongoing row between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the sharing of Cauvery waters has eased to some extent.
On August 3, the inflow in Harangi dam in Kodagu was 7,000 cusecs while the outflow was 7,000 cusecs. The inflow in the dam has dropped. The Harangi dam level stood at 2,856.92 feet against the maximum of 2,859 feet.
Usually, the increase in water level in KRS dam will be fast till the 100-foot mark, but thereafter, the rise will be slower as the span of the backwater increases.
Meanwhile, rains in Kodagu have receded with an average of 19.52 mm rain recorded in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. on August 3. Bhagamandala recorded 60.90 mm of rainfall while Madikeri recorded 54.40 mm and Sampaje 67.60 mm.
Following heavy discharge of water from Kabini dam in Mysuru district of Karnataka, the Kapila river is in spate and the famous 16-pillared mantapa (Hadinaaru Kalu Mantapa) at the bathing ghat (Snana Ghatta) in the river at Nanjangud, a prominent pilgrim site on the river bank, was partially submerged. The river water is inching closer to ‘Mudi Katte’, near the famous Srikanteshwaraswamy temple, in the town.
The surroundings of the river bank in the town have been flooded, with the people restricted from going near the swollen river and the bathing ghat. Flood warning was issued for the safety of the people living on the river banks.
At 8 pm on August 3, 25,000 cusecs of water was discharged from the dam. The inflow was 27,115 cusecs due to incessant rains in its catchment areas in Wayanad in neighbouring Kerala. The reservoir level on August 3 stood at 2,282.71 feet as against the maximum of 2,284 feet. As against the dam’s maximum storage capacity of 19.52 tmc, the live storage stood at 18.68 tmc.
Locals and tourists thronged the Kabini dam in H. D. Kote taluk to glimpse the water gushing out of the crest gates.
With the dam inching closer to its maximum level and surplus water discharged for the dam’s safety, there is a practice of offering ‘bagina’ to the dam by the Chief Minister. Till a few days ago, due to prolonged dry spell, the situation was altogether different and the revival of monsoon in Wayanad region in Kerala resulted in the dam almost reach its full reservoir level, bringing relief to the farmers and the Karnataka government led by Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar.
Published - August 03, 2026 04:48 pm IST
Source: The Hindu - India News
