With the Irrigation Department releasing water from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS), tourism spots along the Cauvery have been witnessing a steady rise in the number of tourists for the past couple of weeks.
Catchment areas of the Cauvery in Kodagu district and areas upstream of the reservoir received good spells of rainfall in recent days and therefore, the inflow rate into the reservoir has increased significantly. The authorities have increased the outflow from the reservoir, owing to which, these tourism spots now look vibrant and picturesque.
Tourism spotsVisitors are flocking to KRS, Balamuri waterfalls, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Srirangapatna, Paschima Vahini, Gende Hosahalli Bird Sanctuary, Mahadevapura, Muthathi, Bheemeshwari fishing camp, Shivanasamudra and Gaganachukki waterfalls in the district.
The outflow from the reservoir was at the rate of just 350 cusecs on July 8. However, it rose to 8,052 cusecs on July 15 as the Irrigation Department began discharging water to Tamil Nadu. It continuously increased till Sunday, when it was 11,475 cusecs at 6.30 a.m. The CNNL then reduced the outflow rate to 446 cusecs on Sunday night. It was, however, increased to 3,100 cusecs on Tuesday morning.
At least 20,000 tourists — domestic and foreign nationals — have been visiting these places every day for the past two weeks. Many of them come from Bangalore and other parts of south India to take in the beauty of nature, a senior officer of the Department of Tourism told The Hindu here on Tuesday.
He said that the number of people thronging these tourism spots was expected to increase in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the Mandya police have deployed additional policemen at Muthathi, Gaganachukki and Balamuri, KRS and other places to prevent loss of life and property.
