Water only for drinking and not irrigation for now as KRS levels stay low: Ramalinga Reddy

The water currently available in the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir is sufficient to meet drinking water requirements for the next three to four months, but cannot be released for irrigation at present, Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy said on Friday (July 10).

Addressing presspersons after chairing a meeting with elected representatives and officials from Mandya, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts to review the water situation in the KRS command area, the Minister said the existing storage would be reserved primarily for drinking water supply.

He said the reservoir presently holds 14.5 tmcft of water, of which about 10.1 tmcft is utilisable after excluding dead storage. “The available water will be sufficient to meet drinking water needs in Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts for the next three to four months. Irrigation releases are not possible under the present circumstances,” he said.

Mr. Reddy added that water would be released for agricultural purposes if storage levels improve following increased inflows.

The Minister said inflows into the Cauvery basin reservoirs had improved following rainfall in Kodagu and adjoining regions. At present, the combined inflow into the KRS, Harangi, Kabini and Hemavathi reservoirs stands at 41,731 cusecs. If the inflows continue at the present rate, the water situation is expected to improve, he said.

Cloud seeding

The State government is also considering cloud seeding as a measure to address the rainfall deficit, Mr. Reddy said.

Reports indicated below-normal rainfall in Karnataka and 11 other States. The government has directed officials to consult experts and submit a report on the feasibility of undertaking cloud seeding, said the Minister.

Release to Tamil Nadu

Mr. Reddy noted that that owing to deficient rainfall and low reservoir storage, only about 3 tmcft has been released to Tamil Nadu since June. Karnataka was required, under the Cauvery Tribunal’s award, to release 40 tmcft of water to Biligundlu during June and July, he said.

He clarified that the State government would act in accordance with the directions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC). “The CWRC is scheduled to meet on July 15. We will present the prevailing situation before the committee, which will take an appropriate decision. Drinking water will continue to receive the highest priority, and we will abide by the committee’s directions regarding the remaining water,” he said.