Krishna rises further due to heavy rain, water discharge from Maharashtra

Water levels in the Krishna and its tributaries continued to rise in Belagavi and Bagalkot districts due to heavy rain and increased discharge from Maharashtra.

Discharge from Maharashtra reached around 1.4 lakh cusecs on Wednesday.

Officials, however, have said that there is no need for panic till the discharge from Maharashtra crosses two lakh cusecs.

Outflow from Basava Sagar dam on the Krishna in Narayanpur was increased to 2.8 lakh cusecs. This is due to the increase in the outflow from the Lal Bahadur Shastri reservoir on the Krishna at Almatti to 2.55 lakh cusecs.

“Considering increasing rainfall in upstream catchment area and discharge from Almatti dam, inflow at Narayanpur Dam is likely to increase. The expected inflow is 2,55,000 cusecs and it may increase further. Hence, outflow in the Krishna river course will be gradually increased from 2,32,740 cusecs to 2,80,000 cusecs. Outflow will increase or decrease depending on the rainfall and discharge from Maharashtra,” officials said.

Meanwhile, at least 12 bridge-cum-barrages in Belagavi district and three in Bagalkot district remained submerged. Commuters were using alternative routes, officials said. The police have deployed staff on the closed routes.

Water entered houses in some low-lying areas in Gokak and Nippani. Most of the residents of Kumbar Galli in Gokak left their houses and moved to a relief centre set up in Gokak town. Similarly, residents in riverbank areas in Nippani moved to a relief centre in the town.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan joined other senior officers in visiting flood-hit and flood-prone areas in the district.

“The Belagavi district administration will conduct a survey of all low-lying bridges and propose construction of new ones at a higher level than the existing ones,” Mr. Roshan said on Wednesday.

He was speaking to reporters after visiting the Lolasur bridge near Gokak.

The district administration has opened two relief centres in Gokak and Nippani. There may be a need to set up a total of 63, if rainfall increases and water levels in the rivers increase. The district administration is prepared to set up 550, if the flood situation gets worse, he said in response to a query.

The officers interacted with inmates of the relief centre in Gokak. Some inmates demanded permanent resettlement of flood-prone villages. Mr Roshan said that he will place their demand before the State government.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Shinde and other officials were present.

Water release from Maharashtra increased to 1,47,930 cusecs on Wednesday. This was 30% more than the quantum released on Tuesday.

The release from Koyna dam was 95,200 cusecs and it may cross one lakh cusecs in the next few hours, officials said.

The dam has 101.4 tmcft of water. Cumulative rainfall in the region was 900 mm. As many as six curved gates of the dam were opened on Wednesday. Maharashtra officials issued a warning to farmers and fishermen in villages along the river.

Inflow at Hippargi barrage was 1,13,500 cusecs and outflow 1,12,750 cusecs. The present storage is zero.

Officials reduced water storage levels in the Almatti dam by nearly 20% to prevent flooding in the backwater regions. Now, the dam has 107.25 tmcft water.

The Raja Lakhamagouda dam has 50.7 tmcft of water against the full capacity of 51 tmcft. Inflow was 30,308 cusecs and outflow 35,462 cusecs.