TB dam authorities announce water release starting today in view of heavy inflow

With heavy rain lashing the catchment areas of the Tunga, the Bhadra and the Varada and an increase in water release from upstream dams, authorities of the Tungabhadra Dam have announced large-scale water release into the river course starting Monday morning.

According to an alert issued by the Tungabhadra Board on Sunday evening, the reservoir level stands at 1,625.57 ft, holding 78.37 tmcft of water against its full capacity of 105.78 tmcft at 1,633 ft.

The dam is receiving 43,253 cusecs of water which is expected to surge to over 1.1 lakh cusecs due to upstream release, 75,000 cusecs from Tunga Dam, 40,000 cusecs from Bhadra Dam, 10,000 cusecs from Varada River, along with fresh rainfall in the catchment.

“In view of the rising inflow, water will be released into the Tungabhadra river course starting 6 a.m. on Monday. The outflow may range between 80,000 cusecs and 1.15 lakh cusecs, depending on inflow. The authorities and people in downstream villages are requested to stay alert and take precautionary measures,” the board said in its message.

Koppal Deputy Commissioner Suresh B. Itnal, issuing an advisory, urged residents in riverside villages to exercise maximum caution.

“More than 1.1 lakh cusecs of water may be released from the Tungabhadra Dam. People living along the riverbanks downstream should not venture into the river course under any circumstances nor should they take their cattle for grazing near the river waters. Necessary precautions must be taken until further instructions,” Mr. Itnal said in the advisory.

Officials said that police and revenue teams have been asked to remain on high alert and the local administrations are making announcements in villages along the Tungabhadra to prevent accidents.