Tungabhadra dam runs dry; rain deficit triggers kharif crisis fears

Munirabad (Koppal): The Tungabhadra reservoir is facing an early monsoon crisis, with inflows remaining almost nil since June 20 due to a severe rainfall deficit in the Malnad catchment.

The situation has raised fears of drought and cast a shadow over the kharif season for lakhs of farmers in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, despite the recent installation of new crest gates.The reservoir on June 30 holds only 9.3 tmcft of water, against 71.8 tmcft during the same period last year. It has received just 0.3 tmcft of inflows this season, compared to 57.6 tmcft a year ago, when peak inflows crossed 50,605 cusecs.The water level has dropped to 1,587.9 ft from 1,623.5 ft recorded during the same period last year. Officials said virtually no inflow has been recorded since June 20.Normally, the reservoir receives substantial inflows during June, but deficient rainfall in the catchment areas of Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru has left feeder streams nearly dry.By June 30 last year, the reservoir was more than half full and water was being released into the river and canals.

This year, however, the available storage is being conserved exclusively for drinking purposes, with no releases for irrigation or industrial use.The Tungabhadra command, spread across Vijayanagara, Ballari, Koppal and Raichur districts in Karnataka, besides parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, requires nearly 120 tmcft of water for the kharif crop, leaving farmers increasingly anxious.The dam provides irrigation to over 16.3 lakh acres across the three states, including 9.2 lakh acres in Karnataka, 6.2 lakh acres in Andhra Pradesh and 87,000 acres in Telangana.

Farmers had already sacrificed the second crop last year during installation of the new crest gates, and now fear losing both crops due to the severe shortage.Chief engineer Srinivas Malligawad described the poor inflow into the Tungabhadra reservoir as alarming. He said the Bhadra reservoir in Shivamogga is also witnessing poor inflows due to deficient rainfall.However, he expressed hope that rainfall would improve during the second week of July and help ease the situation.Vijayanagara district president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha T Nagaraj said, “While installation of the new crest gates has brought relief, failure of rains has pushed farmers into distress. Whatever the outcome, farmers are unlikely to escape hardship.”