MYSURU:The residents of Mysuru region and Bengaluru can heave a sigh of relief as there is enough water in the Kabini reservoir this year to meet their needs. All these years these areas had to face water scarcity due to the depleting water levels in the reservoir.
The water level in the reservoir is enough for both drinking water and agricultural purposes.
The Kabini farmers who were denied water for the second crop during the previous year after the water level touched the bottom are relieved. Kabini has enough water this year to meet the drinking water needs of Nanjangud, T Narsipur, Kollegal town and Mysuru city.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had noted that they need 600 cusecs of water to meet the drinking water needs of Bengaluru city which has over 1.2 crore population.
The Irrigation Department authorities are releasing water for drinking purposes and for irrigation of land up to 100 km in both right and left bank canals.
According to Irrigation Department officials, water level in Kabini is 2,273.40 ft against 2,272.85 ft last year. The reservoir has 13 tmcft water including dead storage of 8 tmcft that would help meet drinking water requirements for the next three months. Water level in Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir is 103.39 ft (maximum 124.8 ft) against 102.88 ft during the corresponding period last year. Hemavathi reservoir has 2,870.43 ft water as against maximum of 2,922 ft. The reservoir helps meet drinking water needs of Hassan, Holenarsipur and parts of Tumkur district.
The increased water levels in Kabini and Hemavathi bring much-needed relief to wild animals too as most of the animals were affected during the previous years, leading to man-animal conflict as they began to move towards human habitation for food and water.
Besides, showers that lashed the regions a couple of days ago have also brought relief to wildlife including 800 elephants, deer and other animals which depend on Kabini backwaters.
Command Area Development Authority Chairman C Dase Gowda said there will not be water scarcity in Mysuru and Bengaluru as the reservoir has enough water.
He, however, appealed to people to make judicious use of water and follow the guidelines issued by the Irrigation Department.
Gowda said they have decided to release 50 cusecs of water from Machanabele reservoir for seven days to provide drinking water to Ramanagaram. He said they took the decision following the requests of legislators including JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy to release water to Ramanagaram.