Dams in Karnataka filled to the brim due to torrential rains

PTI, Jul 22, 2024, 3:54 PM IST

Amid torrential rains in Karnataka’s catchment areas, most of the state’s dams are now filled to capacity, the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) confirmed. This notable rise in water levels follows 15 days of incessant downpours in the Malnad region, causing major rivers to swell.

In the Cauvery basin, the inflow of water reached 98,577 cusecs, while the outflow was 70,645 cusecs, significantly impacting dams like Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS), Harangi, Hemavathi, and Kabini. The situation occurs amidst a legal backdrop, as Karnataka prepares to negotiate water release obligations with Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, D K Shivakumar, announced that 51,000 cusecs water is being released to Tamil Nadu, meeting regulatory requirements. Additional rain forecasts predict continued heavy rainfall in various districts, with significant water management actions planned to mitigate potential flooding.