Chennai, September 8 (Daily Kiran) : Chennai, September 8 — Due to reduced rainfall and inflow in the upper catchment areas, Karnataka has significantly decreased the amount of water released to Tamil Nadu from the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) and Kabini reservoirs. The current discharge is set at 5,200 cubic feet per second (cusec), a drastic reduction from the previous total of 11,983 cusec, marking a nearly 57% drop.
This reduction is critical for Tamil Nadu, which closely monitors the water released from Karnataka’s Cauvery basin reservoirs. The water flows downstream to the Mettur Dam, supporting irrigation in the Cauvery Delta, where farmers rely on timely water supply for their standing crops and seasonal farming.
Of the total water released to Tamil Nadu, 4,800 cusec is coming from the KRS reservoir, while the remaining 1,200 cusec is from the Kabini reservoir. The KRS is located in Shrirangapatna, Mandya district, with its catchment area encompassing parts of Kodagu district and Wayanad in Kerala.
Rainfall in Kodagu has completely ceased, leading to a continuous decrease in inflow to the reservoirs. As of Monday morning, the water level at KRS was recorded at 106.84 feet, with the full capacity being 124.80 feet. The inflow into the reservoir was noted at 2,511 cusec, while the outflow was 4,800 cusec.
The situation is similar at the Kabini reservoir in Mysuru district, where the water level is 2,268.50 feet, against a full capacity of 2,284 feet. The inflow there was 2,514 cusec, with 1,200 cusec being released downstream. Combined, the total water flowing to Tamil Nadu from both reservoirs is 5,200 cusec.
Typically, decisions regarding water release from reservoirs are made based on rainfall, water flow, current storage levels, and the needs of lower-lying areas. Given the lack of rainfall in the upper Cauvery catchment area, officials are expected to closely monitor the reservoir levels before making any further changes.
The reduction in water flow has raised concerns about water availability in the Cauvery Delta of Tamil Nadu. Should rainfall resume in Kodagu and Wayanad, it could lead to increased inflow into the KRS, Kabini, and other reservoirs in the basin.
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