The City of Palaces to face further drinking water shortage

Mysore, May 16 (UNI) The drinking water shortage in the City of Palaces may further worsen with water level in Krishnaraj Sagar Reservoir (KRS) near here further going down.

The water level at KRS, the main source of water to the Mysore, stood at 68.8 feet today against the maximum level of 124.80 feet.

Last year at this time the water level was 83.05 feet.

KRS has 0.2 tmc of water, while need was for one tmc of water every month for supply to Mysore, Mandya, Srirangpatna, Bangalore and for irrigation in Mandya District.

In Mandya farmers have already started demanding release of water for saving standing paddy crops as authorities had delayed the release for ten days from May ten due to poor storage.

The next source would be Hemavathi reservoir located in neighbouring Hassan District which has at present only 1.1 tmc feet of water against its capacity of 5.4 tmc. As Hemavathi too has to supply water to Hassan and Tumkur apart from irrigation, The KRS authorities told visiting reporters.

Water should be drawn with emergency pump from the river bed upto 64 feet, which may last about ten days. As the monsoon only expected to hit this part of the region only in second week of July Authorities are in a helpless position and trying to supply drinking water.

UNI