Kamal Ghorui
Mandya: With early-summer heatwave tightening its grip, water level at Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS) reservoir — lifeline of Old Mysuru region, including Bengaluru — has slipped below the 100-ft mark.Though there’s no immediate threat to water supply in the next month and a half, authorities are exercising caution and have advised the farming community against opting for water-intensive crops.Water level at KRS, which has a maximum of 124.8ft, now stands at 99.4ft. On paper, water can be pumped out for agricultural purposes till it reaches 60ft and for drinking water till it drops to 50ft. But the bigger question is the inflow-outflow mismatch. While daily inflow is at 80 cusecs, outflow tops 4,300 cusecs. Plus, rising temperatures mean higher evaporation losses.At present, the region requires a monthly requirement of 2tmcft of drinking water.Officials ruled out any immediate drinking water crisis, reassuring residents of Bengaluru, Mandya, Mysuru and Ramanagara. Cauvery Neeravari Nigam executive engineer Jayanth V said, “At present, there is no shortage of water for agriculture too. However, people and farmers should use water judiciously.”While India Meteorological Department has forecast further rise in temperature, authorities are categorical that there’s no shortage in the region till June, which conventionally heralds monsoon.
