KRS breaches 95-ft mark, farmers elated

MYSORE: Much to the delight of all stakeholders, the water level at the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) Reservoir breached the 95-ft mark on Monday, thanks to the heavy downpour in the catchment areas.The rising water level in KRS and rains in Kerala are likely to keep AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha in good humour over the Cauvery water-sharing issue.KRS has now an all-time high of 95 ft storage against the maximum of 124.8 ft.The KRS, the life line of Cauvery basin, had recorded 71.8 ft in 2009, 79 ft in 2010 with just two tmc of water for irrigation and drinking purpose.Though the level in KRS used to reach the brim in September-October, depending on heavy rains in Kodagu, the reservoir with 95 ft water, 19.13 tmc and 11 tmc for utilities this month, has brought smiles on the faces of farmers. The Irrigation Department has banned the cultivation of sugar cane, paddy and advised to cultivate semi dry crops like pulses in summer, fearing that it could not augment water for drinking and irrigation purposes.The increase in inflow to 3,771 cusecs and live storage of 95 ft could help meet the demand from both farmers and Mysore and Mandya towns for drinking water.The farming community that was shocked over the scanty rainfall and poor inflow into the reservoir in the previous year, hoped that the present water level will help fill KRS to its fullest capacity in the next couple of months. The state government that took note of the leakage in the reservoir, has replaced all dilapidated gates.This move of the government to get gates replaced in the past six months has also saved about 3 to 4 tmc water going waste as leakage at the boating point in Brindavan garden and to the river.Rising Water-level in KabiniHeavy downpour in Wyanad in Kerala has increased the level in Kabini reservoir to 2,266.98 ft with 3,716 cusecs inflow as against maximum of 2,284 ft. The reservoir level was 2,256.73 ft with inflow of 214 cusecs in the previous year. There would not be much pressure from Tamil Nadu as the Mettur reservoir level is 113.18 ft with 1,743 cusecs inflow on June 11. against the maximum of 120 ft. The Chief Minister, under pressure from the TN government, had released water from the KRS and Kabini, ignoring the criticism of Raita Sangha and other organisations.