Bengaluru: Is Karnataka heading for a drought? It is more than two weeks since the South westerly monsoons have entered Karnataka, but the water levels at many reservoirs in the state remain below dead storage. It has the farmers and Agriculture Department of the state worried. It is also worrisome that the inflow into all 24 reservoirs seem to have not picked up. As a result, water storage in all 24 dams across the state remains stagnant, leaving us with a deficit of 110 TMC compared to last year’s levels. This situation raises immediate concerns about the looming threat of water scarcity in the near future.
The implications of this predicament extend far beyond the scope of irrigation and hydropower generation; they pose a direct threat to the livelihoods of our communities. In light of these circumstances, it is crucial to assess the current state of all dams and explore potential avenues to augment water storage capacity. Equally important is understanding the government’s strategies for addressing drought scenarios.
According to the officials in the Department of Water Resources, the major reservoirs can be divided into three categories based on their respective rivers: Krishna, Kaveri, and Godavari. Among these, the Krishna Valley boasts the largest number of dams, totaling 17, followed by 5 dams in the Kaveri river basin and 2 dams in the Godavari river basin. Presently, the water storage in the Krishna Valley reservoirs stands at 112 TMC, with the Kaveri Valley holding 47 TMC and the Godavari Valley retaining 6 TMC. Remarkably, this marks the first time in the past three years that water levels in the dams have reached such critically low points, causing genuine concern as they fail to reach even half of their capacity.
Here are the current water levels in the major reservoirs:
Krishna Valley: 23% capacity
Kaveri Valley: 27% capacity
Godavari Valley: 64% capacity
Comparing the data from the past three years, it is evident that by June 20th, we should have accumulated at least 230 to 250 TMC of water in our state’s reservoirs. Unfortunately, this year paints a disheartening picture, with only 165 TMC of water stored by the same date. These alarming figures emphasise the severity of the situation as we enter the rainy season, fueling concerns about the potential consequences that lie ahead. The distressing decline in water levels is also evident in some of our state’s primary reservoirs:
1. KRS Dam:
– Total Capacity: 49 TMC
– Current Storage: 9.9 TMC
2. Tungabhadra Dam:
– Total Capacity: 105 TMC
– Current Storage: 4.5 TMC
3. Alamatti Dam:
– Total Capacity: 130 TMC
– Current Storage: 19.9 TMC
These examples provide a glimpse into the overall situation. All 24 dams across the state face similar circumstances, resulting in an average water storage deficit of 40% compared to last year.