Kushalnagar: Above normal rainfall in April and May has resulted in increased inflows to the Harangi Dam, Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam and the Kabini Dam along the Cauvery Basin, a phenomenon that is normally observed in August-September every year.
Looking at the inflows, engineers are expecting the reservoirs to be filled to the brim in a few days after the monsoon fully sets in. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre have said it will rain for another two to three days and this rainy season will lead to the arrival of the South-West Monsoon.
After an early arrival over Andaman & Nicobar islands, the South-West Monsoon will hit Kerala by the middle of next week. The IMD said that if the onset of the South-West Monsoon over Kerala happens this weekend, it will be the earliest onset in recent years. In 2009, the monsoon reached Kerala on May 23.
Water level at the KRS Dam in Srirangapatna taluk in Mandya district today stands at 103.80 ft as against the maximum level of 124.80 ft. An inflow of 12,488 cusecs has been recorded and there is a total outflow of 2417 cusecs.
The inflow to the KRS Dam was 4,396 cusecs till May 18. After the catchment areas received heavy rainfall, the inflow rose up to 16,814 cusecs on Friday and today it stands at 12,488 cusecs.
The water level at Kabini Dam in H.D. Kote taluk stands at 2262.04 ft today as against the maximum level of 2284 ft. There is an inflow of 2947 cusecs and an outflow of 1,000 cusecs.
Today’s level at Harangi Dam in Kodagu district is 2,850.51 ft as against a maximum level of 2,859 ft. There is an inflow of 653 cusecs and an outflow of 300 cusecs to the river and 20 cusecs to canals.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Harangi Assistant Engineer Siddaraju said that the Harangi Dam is receiving a healthy inflow from both rivers Cauvery and Harangi.
“We have to maintain a good space in the Dam before it gets full and we will keep the 0.8 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) gap and release excess water. We will maintain a level of 2854 ft or 2855 ft,” he said.
The Dam level is maintained based on the inflow and information about rains. “Usually when it rains heavily in Madikeri taluk, it takes about two hours for the water to reach Harangi Dam. We will always keep space for fresh rainwater to enter the Dam and release water downstream for it to reach KRS Dam,” he said.
This post was published on May 21, 2022 6:32 pm