The KRS dam water level has risen to 103.52 feet after strong rainfall in Kodagu increased inflows into the Krishna Raja Sagara reservoir in Mandya district, easing immediate concerns over drinking-water supplies to Bengaluru, Mysuru and several other cities and towns dependent on the Cauvery system.
According to a report by Prajavani, the reservoir level increased by about three feet after rainfall in Kodagu over the past week. The rise followed two days of heavier rain, during which the reservoir received more than half a foot of additional water in a single day.
The improvement comes after the KRS level had fallen to 100 feet during the winter, raising concern about the availability of water for urban consumption. The report said the concern was particularly linked to drinking water rather than agricultural activity, as the reservoir supplies water to Bengaluru, Mysuru and other urban centres.
Inflow into the reservoir increased during Sunday. At 8 am, the inflow was recorded at 9,475 cusecs. By 8 pm, it had risen to 12,282 cusecs. The reservoir level also increased from 102.98 feet in the morning to 103.52 feet by night.
The KRS reservoir currently holds 25.69 thousand million cubic feet (TMC ft) of water, against its total storage capacity of 49.45 TMC ft. Water is being released from the reservoir at 1,771 cusecs, according to the figures cited in the report.
The change in reservoir levels highlights the dependence of major urban water systems on rainfall in upstream catchments. In this case, rainfall in Kodagu, where the Cauvery receives significant flows, has had a direct effect on the volume reaching the reservoir downstream in Mandya district.
The recent increase does not bring the reservoir to full capacity, with current storage at slightly more than half of its total capacity. However, the higher inflow has reduced the immediate pressure associated with the earlier decline in water levels and has improved the short-term position for cities supplied by the KRS system.
The next reported indicators will be the continuing inflow from the Cauvery basin, the reservoir’s daily storage level and the volume released for downstream and urban requirements. These figures will determine how the improvement develops in the coming days.
