Water storage drops to 34 tmc ft in Tungabhadra reservoir

Hosapete: Hosapete, dhns: With water storage in Tungabhadra reservoir dropping to 34.64 tmc ft, the release of water to canals may be suspended, in all probability, in the next 10 days.It may be recalled here that the Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC), in its last meeting, had decided to release water to canals up to November 20 and, if there was rain in rabi season, the meeting had decided to release water till December 10. But with the deficit rainfall, this may be highly doubtful. "Due to deficit monsoon, there was no inflow till September 10 and with no rain during rabi season, there is no inflow to the reservoir as well. Farmers have been demanding to release water to canals till December 10. But it would be difficult to meet their demand in the current situation," said the Tungabhadra Board. Tungabhadra Board Section Engineer Kiran stated that the drought-like situation witnessed in 2023 has recurred this year as well. He explained that the reservoir, which has a maximum storage capacity of 105.78 TMC feet, had recorded only 89 TMC feet of water in 2023, while this year’s storage stands at 96 TMC feet.Given the necessity of conserving water for drinking purposes, water release may have to be stopped, he observed.

Source: Deccan Herald