Chikkahole and Suvarnavathi reservoirs in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district have recorded a sharp rise in water levels after heavy rain in their catchment areas in Tamil Nadu, bringing relief to farmers and improving prospects for irrigation, lake filling and groundwater recharge across the region.
The twin reservoirs serve command areas covering 15,357 hectares across the three taluks of Chamarajanagar, Kollegal and Yelandur, as well as parts of Hanur taluk. Suvarnavathi water is also used to fill 11 lakes, while water from Chikkahole is planned for filling two lakes used for drinking water purposes.
According to the report, inflows increased after heavy rain over the past three days in the Sathyamangalam region of Tamil Nadu and the Bedaguli range of the Biligiriranga Tiger Reserve. The reservoirs had caused concern in the district after their levels fell during a prolonged dry spell linked to a weak monsoon.
As of Saturday, the Suvarnavathi reservoir stood at 2,435 feet against its maximum level of 2,445 feet. Chikkahole’s water level was recorded at 2,455 feet, compared with its maximum level of 2,474 feet.
Mahesh, assistant executive engineer of the Chikkahole reservoir, told The Times of India that the water levels in both reservoirs had been increasing for three days. He said the twin reservoirs generally fill during October and November, when their catchment areas receive rainfall. If the rain continues in the Tamil Nadu catchments, both dams could reach their brim levels by the following week, he said.
The two reservoirs were constructed by the Karnataka government in 1977 to use rainwater from catchment areas extending into Tamil Nadu. Located near the national highway stretch between Chamarajanagar and Sathyamangalam, they are a critical part of the region’s irrigation and local water network.
The improved inflow has also raised expectations of better groundwater conditions in the command areas. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha leader Baradanapura Nagaraj said water levels had fallen two weeks earlier when there was little indication of rain, but the renewed inflow had brought relief to farmers and supported groundwater rejuvenation.
Nagaraj also urged the district administration to prohibit the extraction of sand and soil from the riverbeds whenever the reservoirs dry up, alleging that such activity takes place during those periods. The authorities’ next task will be to monitor inflows, reservoir levels and the use of water for irrigation and lake filling as rainfall continues in the catchment areas.
