The water discharge from Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir in Mandya district was stepped up on Monday as the outflow from the dam crossed 70,000 cusecs amidst continuous rains in the dam’s catchment area in Kodagu.
With the water-level of the dam touching 122.54 ft. as against the maximum of 124.80 ft., the dam authorities increased the release of water from 48,963 cusecs at 6 a.m. on Monday to 71,002 cusecs at 6 p.m. on Monday. The outflow into the river may go up further with the likelihood of increase in the inflow in view of torrential rain in the dam’s catchment.
The inflow at 6 p.m. on July 11 was 71,147 cusecs. The outflow on this day last year was 1,350 cusecs and the inflow was 1,495 cusecs.
The dam authorities on Sunday had asked the people living in low-lying areas of the river and on the river banks to move to safer places, announcing that water would be discharged at the rate of 25,000 cusecs to 75,000 cusecs into the river in view of heavy inflow. The discharge may increase any moment and, therefore, the people are advised to take precautions, they said.
As anticipated, the outflow crossed 70,000 cusecs on Monday, prompting the district administration to take necessary safety precautions in view of flood threat.
Dams approach maximum levels
The other major dams in Cauvery river basin are also filling up fast and inching closer to their maximum levels with torrential rains lashing their catchment areas.
Kabini dam in Mysuru district, which used to be the first dam to get full during monsoon following rains in neighbouring Kerala, is nearing its full reservoir level (FRL) with the inflow remaining high. The dam is 2 feet short of attaining its maximum level, with the level on Monday standing at 2,282.68 ft. as against the maximum of 2,284 ft. The water was discharged at the rate of 38,000 cusecs at 6 p.m. on Monday as the inflow was 32,232 cusecs.
The outflow from Harangi dam in Kodagu crossed 25,000 cusecs. With continuing rains in its catchment area, the inflow was 19,380 cusecs. The surplus water is being discharged into the river.
People warned against flood threat
Amidst the threat of floods from overflowing Cauvery in Kollegal taluk in view of heavy outflow from KRS dam, people on the river banks and low lying areas were advised to take precautions and not to venture into the river for fishing, bathing cattle and washing clothes.
The Chamarajnagar district authorities visited the flood-prone areas and advised the people to move to safer places amidst the rising water-level of Cauvery. Residents of Mullur, Hale Hampapura, Dasanapura, Sattegala, Yadakuriya, Sargur, Danagere and other villages in the taluk have been told to take precautions over the flood alert.
Meanwhile, there is no let-up in the rain situation in Kodagu as normal life continues to be affected in the district which has been hit by heavy rains for the past several days.
Orange alert has been declared in Kodagu till Tuesday.
NDRF teams assisting local personnel in clearing debris and trees fallen on the road after landslips for the free movement of traffic.
Bhagamandala recorded 126 mm rain in the last 24 hours while Shanthalli recorded 114 mm rain. A total of 66.71 mm rain was recorded in Madikeri, Virajpet and Somwarpet.
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