Monsoon fills up reservoirs in Cauvery Krishna basin

Bangalore, July 9 (UNI) Continuous rainfall during the last one month of the ongoing South West monsoon has helped to fill up most of the major reservoirs in Karnataka with levels nearing the brim in Cauvery and Krishna basin.

Authorities issued flood warning following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the river Cauvery in Kodagu, Chikmagalur and Hassan districts.

A report from Belgaum said two people had died due to wall collapse near the city since yesterday. They were identified as Sridhar Arun Lad (19) and Malleshi Siddappa Karadi (25).

A report from Mysore said water level at Hemavati was just five ft below its maximum of 2,922 ft, with the inflow being 32,000 cusecs and the discharge 9,000 cusecs.

Krishnaraja Sagar Reservoir (KRS) across Cauvery recorded an inflow of 41,987 cusecs, while the discharge was maintained at 6,668 cusecs. The water level today stood at 115.20 ft against the maximum capacity of 124.80 ft.

Hemavathy reservoir authorities in Hassan district issued a flood warning asking people living on the river banks to move to safer places, since the discharge from the dam might increase any moment following expected heavy inflows into the reservoir.

Meanwhile, the water level in Kabini reservoir was near the brim due to heavy rains in Waynad in Kerala. The level stood at 2,282 ft against its maximum capacity of 2,284 ft.

Krishna river in Belgaum was receiving 1.4 lakh cusecs of water from Rajapur barrage in Maharashtra. This included 24,710 cusecs from Koyna and 40,370 cusecs from Panchganga reservoirs across Krishna upstream Rajapur.

In all 17 roads and bridges were cut-off due to the overflowing rivers Malaprabha and Ghataprabha. About 23 people had died in the rain related incidents since the advent of monsoon this year in Belgaum district.

Standing crops in 16,840 hectares were damaged and the loss was estimated at Rs 75.08 crore, a primary report prepared by the district administration said.

In Uttara Kannada, Bedti, Varada, Aghanashini, Kali and Gangavali, rivers were reaching the full level but no untoward incidents were reported. Varada had inundated a large area of standing crops in Banavasi taluk, while sea erosion continued at Pavinkuruva in Honnavar taluk.

In Shimoga district active monsoon increased inflows into Sharavathi, Tunga, Bhadra and Kumudvati rivers. Bird sanctuaries at Mandagadde and Tadakalale were under threat due to the rising water levels.

In Bagalkot district Alamatti dam across Krishna was receiving an inflow of 1.65 lakh cusecs and releasing 1.25 lakh cusecs.

UNI