Heavy rains in Kodagu: Discharge from KRS stepped up

The discharge from Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) near Mysuru has been stepped up in view of the heavy rains in its catchment areas in Kodagu district.

According to a statement from the office of Deputy Commissioner of Mandya district, the outflow from the reservoir was in the range of 80,000 cusecs to 1,20,000 cusecs at 12 on Monday.

The outflow from the reservoir, whose level was 124.54 ft against the maximum reservoir level of 124.8 ft, was 31,550 cusecs at 8 a.m. before it was raised to a range between 50,000 cusecs and 80,000 cusecs by 10 a.m.

Authorities have advised people living in low-lying areas to shift to safer places along with their cattle. The officials of the Water Resources Department said that the release of water from the KRS can be further increased.

The authorities have prohibited people from going to the banks of rivers. They have been prohibited from going to the bridges, swimming in rivers or taking selfies near the river.

Meanwhile, educational institutions in Kodagu district, which were closed on Monday, will remain closed on Tuesday, with India Meteorological Department declaring an orange alert for the district.

According to a statement, the Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu announced a holiday for all anganwadis, primary schools, high schools, and pre-university colleges on Tuesday in view of the orange alert.

The authorities are expecting heavy rains accompanied by strong winds in Kodagu district on Tuesday.

‘Fill up lakes’

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy has instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Mandya, Kumar, to take necessary steps to fill up the lakes in the district.

In the wake of the media reports on increased discharge of water from the KRS following heavy rainfall in its catchment areas in Kodagu on Monday, Mr. Kumaraswamy, who also represents Mandya in the Lok Sabha, called up the Deputy Commissioner over phone from New Delhi.

According to a statement issued by Mr. Kumaraswamy’s office, the Union Minister instructed the Deputy Commissioner over phone to immediately fill up all the lakes in Mandya district.

The KRS had reached its full reservoir level of 124.8 ft early this year, and instructions had been issued to the officials at a recent DISHA meeting to ensure that the lakes in the district should be filled up.

However, several farmers from different parts of the district had complained that the lakes in their respective regions had not been filled. Hence, the Union Minister has issued directions to the Deputy Commissioner to take necessary steps in this regard.