Water will be released from Tungabhadra reservoir to canals till November 30, says Minister

Water will be released from the Tungabhadra reservoir to the canal systems from July 2 to November 30, announced Koppal district in-charge Minister and Tungabhadra Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC) chairman Shivaraj Tangadagi.

Speaking to the press after chairing the 124th meeting of the Tungabhadra Project and Vijayanagara Canals Irrigation Advisory Committee at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Friday, Mr. Tangadagi stated that the reservoir currently holds 57 tmcft of water and the release schedule was devised based on current water availability.

According to the plan Mr. Tangadagi announced the Tungabhadra Left Bank Main Canal will receive water at the rate of 2,000 cusecs from July 2 to 15; 3,000 cusecs from July 16 to 31, and 4,100 cusecs from August 1 to November 30.

The Right Bank Upper Level Canal will receive water at 700 cusecs from July 10 to 31 and 1,300 cusecs from August 1 to November 30. The Right Bank Lower Level Canal will receive 500 cusecs during July and 650 cusecs from August through November. Additionally, the Rayabasavanna Canal will be supplied with 220 cusecs, while the Left Bank Upper Level Canal will receive 25 cusecs of water depending on availability under the canal.

Mr. Tangadagi further said that a meeting involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, along with legislators and farmers from four districts, would be scheduled in the second or third week of July. The focus of the meeting will be dam safety and crop protection, in response to farmers’ demands, he added.

Reacting to concerns raised by farmers about some officials stating that water will be supplied for only one crop season, the Minister clarified that the current decision was indeed to provide water for one crop. “However, a final decision regarding water supply for a second crop will be taken in the upcoming meeting. Such matters must remain free from political interference,” he said.

Regarding infrastructure, Mr. Tangadagi confirmed that discussions on replacing 32 gates of the reservoir would take place in an upcoming meeting led by Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar, along with the experts on dam safety.