Bangalore and Mysore regions are likely to witness water scarcity with reservoir levels touching a 10-year low. There will be no water for standing crops for rest of the season as the catchment area is yet to receive rains both in Kodagu and Wayand in Kerala.
The present level at both Krishnaraja Sagar in Srirangapatna and Kabini dam in H D Kote will be utilised to meet drinking water needs of Bangalore, Mysore and other towns in Mysore and Mandya districts.
KRS level has fallen to 72.22 ft as against 91.9 ft against maximum of 124.8 ft during the previous year. The nine ft live storage in the reservoir will meet drinking water needs for two weeks.
Farmers are the worst affected as the irrigation department that had released water to semi-dry crops in the Cauvery achkat area has stopped discharge of water to irrigation canals from June 1. “We will not be in a position to give water to crops as the level is not enough to meet drinking water needs,” said an official.
Paddy and sugarcane grown in VC canal areas and also in a few parts of Mandya district are worst affected. But officials maintain that they can only help farmers if there is good rain in the catchment area and inflow rises over the weeks.
The situation in Kabini has also worsened with water level dipping to 2,256.68 ft as against 2,260 ft during the corresponding period last year. The reservoir with maximum storage of 2,281 ft is the lifeline to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu farmers. The delay in monsoon has seen an inflow of 74 cusecs and outflow of 700 cusecs for drinking purpose.
The irrigation department has given water for crops on 17,500 acres as against 1.26 lakh acres in Mysore and Chamrajnagar districts as there has been a steep fall in the reservoir level in last couple of months.
The situation would worsen and affect water supply to Bangalore city if there are no rains for next two weeks. The drought situation in both the districts has affected normal life.