Maharashtra Water Release Rises as Rainfall Intensifies Across Krishna River Basin
Persistent rainfall in Maharashtra and Belagavi has triggered a rise in water discharge, impacting major reservoirs across northern Karnataka. While inflows have surged at the Almatti and Bhadra dams, total storage in the region currently sits at approximately 60 percent of capacity.
Key takeaways
- Water discharge from Maharashtra increased to 123,238 cusecs on August 2 following steady rains.
- The Almatti dam on the Krishna River currently holds 94.5 tmcft, approximately 77% of its total 123 tmcft capacity.
- Total water storage across six major northern Karnataka reservoirs is at 60.2% of full capacity.
- Inflow levels rose at the Bhadra and Tungabhadra dams but saw a marginal decline at the Narayanapura and Malaprabha sites.
Regional Rainfall Drives Increased Outflow
Persistent precipitation across Maharashtra and the Belagavi district on Sunday, August 2, led to a marginal uptick in water discharge levels. Reporting a slight increase from the previous day, officials recorded a total discharge of 123,238 cusecs, an increase of 704 cusecs compared to the figures from Saturday, August 1.
Current Status of Major Reservoirs
The Lal Bahadur Shastri reservoir at Almatti, situated on the Krishna River, saw inflows reach 121,500 cusecs. To manage levels, authorities maintained an outflow of 130,000 cusecs. Currently, the Almatti dam holds 94.5 tmcft of water, approaching its maximum capacity of 123 tmcft. Other key installations showed varying levels of activity:
- Raja Lakhamagouda Dam: Situated on the Ghataprabha, this reservoir recorded an inflow of 19,330 cusecs and an outflow of 1,706 cusecs. It currently holds 34 tmcft against a total capacity of 51 tmcft.
- Malaprabha Dam: Monitoring stations recorded an inflow of 4,862 cusecs and an outflow of 1,194 cusecs. Storage remains at 12 tmcft out of a potential 37 tmcft.
Northern Karnataka Storage Trends
Irrigation department data indicates that despite the recent weather patterns, the six primary reservoirs in northern Karnataka are not yet full. Total live storage stands at 226.44 tmcft, representing 60.2% of the aggregate 376.16 tmcft capacity. While the Bhadra, Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha, and Almatti dams have experienced rising inflows, the Malaprabha and Narayanapura reservoirs noted a minor decrease in incoming water volume.
Source: The Hindu — National
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