Karnataka: Dams dry up, water scarcity looms

MYSURU: The level of water in dams built in catchment areas of the river Cauvery has dropped alarmingly although Karnataka received 37 per cent excess pre-monsoon showers and south interior Karnataka recorded 50 per cent more in terms of pre-monsoon rainfall, but the state could end up with 12 per cent deficient rain this year.

According to experts at department of meteorology, heavy pre-monsoon rain would result in 12 per cent deficient rainfall across the state and 5.6 per cent deficient rainfall in south interior Karnataka including the catchment area.

The monsoon would hit the state on Friday, and likely to be normal, but the extent of impact on water level in reservoirs could be ascertained only through intensity of rainfall. Besides, the moisture stress on the soil on which the growth of the crops and production depends, could be assessed only with distribution of rainfall, they added.

Harangi reservoir in Kodagu district

Official sources said the water level at KRS dam has dipped to 76.34 feet as against the total capacity of 124.80 feet on Wednesday, only a foot away from the dead storage level. And, the water level at Kabini dam has dropped to 2265.98 feet against its capacity of 2284 feet on Wednesday. The cities of Bengaluru and Mysuru, however, would not face a shortage this year as water would be released from Kabini dam, sources added.

According to senior meteorologist, Prof and head of Agro Meteorology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Dr M. G. Rajegowda, pre-monsoon rainfall would not make any difference to the water level in these reservoirs but help recharge the soil well and in filling up small tanks and ponds. The pre-monsoon showers, however, would have a negative effect on the monsoon.

And, as per the regional climate model developed by GKVK, the south west monsoon in Karnataka would be seven per cent less than normal. In 2014, the state received six per cent less than normal monsoon, while in 2013 it was five per cent less than normal, he added.