The outflow from Karnataka’s Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam in Mandya district was raised to 8,121 cusecs on Thursday evening after the Cauvery Water Management Authority directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu. The increase came as the reservoir remained below its full storage level, with inflows standing at 2,304 cusecs.
Information released by the Karnataka Water Resources Department showed that the KRS reservoir held water at a level of 106.42 feet. Its current storage was recorded at 28.27 thousand million cubic feet (TMC), against a maximum storage capacity of 49.45 TMC. The reservoir can hold water up to a level of 124.80 feet.
The release was increased in stages during the week. The outflow stood at 1,000 cusecs on Wednesday morning and was raised to 2,000 cusecs by Wednesday evening. By Thursday morning, it had reached 3,700 cusecs. The department’s data showed that the outflow was subsequently increased to about 8,000 cusecs, with the reported evening discharge recorded at 8,121 cusecs.
The change follows the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s direction concerning water releases to Tamil Nadu. The authority’s instruction was for Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs daily, while the discharge from the KRS Dam was higher than that figure at the time covered by the department’s update.
The reservoir’s inflow of 2,304 cusecs was lower than the outflow reported on Thursday. The difference between incoming and outgoing water is reflected in the continuing pressure on the reservoir’s stored water, which remains below the dam’s maximum level and capacity. The figures also show that the KRS reservoir was not full when the higher release was ordered.
KRS is one of Karnataka’s key reservoirs in the Cauvery basin and its releases form part of the wider river-water sharing arrangements between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The current figures relate specifically to the reservoir’s storage, inflow and outflow as reported by the Karnataka Water Resources Department.
The department’s latest update did not provide a revised schedule for the duration of the 8,121-cusec release, nor did it state whether the outflow would be changed further. The next official reservoir update and directions from the Cauvery Water Management Authority will determine the subsequent release levels.
