The water-level in Harangi reservoir dipped to 6.67 tmc feet on Tuesday, the lowest in 28 years. The decrease in the water-level has only led the farmers to worry about the future of their crops in the catchment area.
The deficit rainfall in the catchment areas of Cauvery river basin from the month of June till August has reduced the inflow of water to the reservoir. The water level was 6.67 tmc feet in 1987. Since then, the water-level had not plummeted to such a low level, said reservoir division assistant executive engineer Dharmaraj.
Although the water-level in the reservoir during the corresponding period last year was 6.67 tmc feet, the inflow of water was 4,300 cusecs. This year, the inflow of water has reduced to 1,600 cusecs.
The maximum storage capacity of the reservoir is 8.5 tmc feet, of which only 5.99 tmc water can be used. The release of water into the river has been stopped. However, 1,900 cusecs water was released into the canals. Normally, the reservoir reaches its full capacity thrice during the monsoon and about 35 tmc feet water is released into the KRS dam. This year, only 24.52 tmc feet water was stored so far, of which water up to 13.03 tmc feet was released into the river and 4.37 tmc feet released to the canals for the farmers to irrigate their crops.
The farmers grow paddy, jowar, ginger, ragi and tobacco in the command area. The rain playing hide and seek, and the dip in the water-level is a matter of concern for the farming community but also to the common public as River Cauvery is the main source of drinking water for a large number of districts in the state.
The water from the Harangi reservoir is used for irrigating the farm land not only in Kushalnagar but also in Somwarpet, Arakalagoodu in Hassan, Hunasoor, KR Nagar and Periyapatna in Mysuru.
The deficit rainfall in the catchment areas of Cauvery river basin from the month of June till August has reduced the inflow of water to the reservoir. The water level was 6.67 tmc feet in 1987. Since then, the water-level had not plummeted to such a low level, said reservoir division assistant executive engineer Dharmaraj.
Although the water-level in the reservoir during the corresponding period last year was 6.67 tmc feet, the inflow of water was 4,300 cusecs. This year, the inflow of water has reduced to 1,600 cusecs.
The maximum storage capacity of the reservoir is 8.5 tmc feet, of which only 5.99 tmc water can be used. The release of water into the river has been stopped. However, 1,900 cusecs water was released into the canals. Normally, the reservoir reaches its full capacity thrice during the monsoon and about 35 tmc feet water is released into the KRS dam. This year, only 24.52 tmc feet water was stored so far, of which water up to 13.03 tmc feet was released into the river and 4.37 tmc feet released to the canals for the farmers to irrigate their crops.
The farmers grow paddy, jowar, ginger, ragi and tobacco in the command area. The rain playing hide and seek, and the dip in the water-level is a matter of concern for the farming community but also to the common public as River Cauvery is the main source of drinking water for a large number of districts in the state.
The water from the Harangi reservoir is used for irrigating the farm land not only in Kushalnagar but also in Somwarpet, Arakalagoodu in Hassan, Hunasoor, KR Nagar and Periyapatna in Mysuru.