The water level in Karnataka’s Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir has risen to 104.38 feet after rainfall in Kodagu increased inflows over the past four to five days, while the Kabini reservoir in Mysuru district has also recorded a rise in storage.
According to a report by Prajavani, KRS was receiving 6,940 cusecs of water as of Tuesday morning. The reservoir was releasing 2,518 cusecs. Its current storage stood at 26.44 thousand million cubic feet (TMC), against a reported storage capacity of 49.45 TMC.
The increase follows rainfall in Kodagu during the previous week. Water has continued to flow into the reservoir over the past several days, lifting the water level by about four feet from the recent level of 110 feet after the reservoir had earlier received and released water.
The current level remains below the level recorded during the same period last year, when KRS was full, the report said. This year, a shortfall in rainfall meant that the reservoir did not reach full capacity. It had earlier reached about 110 feet before the water level declined after higher outflows.
KRS has a reported maximum water level of 124.80 feet. The latest increase therefore leaves the reservoir below its maximum level, even as the continuing inflow has improved its position compared with the recent low. The report did not specify the purpose or operational schedule behind the present release from the reservoir.
The Kabini reservoir has also received higher inflows over the same four-to-five-day period. It was receiving 3,202 cusecs as of Tuesday morning and releasing 500 cusecs. The report said inflows had declined over the previous two days as rainfall in Kerala reduced, but the reservoir’s water level continued to increase.
Kabini’s water level stood at 2,273.17 feet, with storage of 13.29 TMC against a reported capacity of 19.52 TMC. The figures place the reservoir below its stated storage capacity while confirming a recent improvement in inflow and overall storage.
The two reservoirs are among Karnataka’s major water-storage assets, making daily changes in inflow, storage and releases important for reservoir management. The latest figures indicate that rainfall in the upstream catchments has temporarily improved water availability at both KRS and Kabini, although their levels remain below the reported maximum storage figures. Further changes will depend on inflows and releases recorded in the coming days.
