City staring at a water crisis
The severe drought that has hit the state is likely to affect the water supply to the city, with the KRS dam , considered the life-line of Bengalureans, not receiving enough inflow from the catchment area of Cauvery river .
This year, the inflow of water has come down drastically in mid-monsoon season, and the dam which is 124-foot high has water level only up to 104 feet. This is the first time in the last two years that BWSSB is facing a shortage of water supply from the dam.
According to BWSSB officials, if the situation continues, drinking water supply to the city will be hit after October, with the situation likely to deteriorate further after February next year.
A BWSSB official said December and January are usually considered the lean period, but due to lack of water in the dam, supply of drinking water will be hit by October itself.
“We lift water from Shiva Anecut and there should be normal inflow of 600 cusecs. But this year, there is shortfall of rain and we fear it will not remain the same,” he said.
“If we face water crisis Instead of every alternate day, water supply would be reduced to once in every three or four days,” he said.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, water resource minister MB Patil said due to shortage of rainfall, inflow of water has been reduced in almost all dams in the state.
Commenting on the water availability in KRS, the minister said, “As of now, priority has been given only to drinking water supply. Regional commissioners will take a call based on the requirement of the water.”
When asked about releasing water to Tamil Nadu, he said, “We have reached distress stage and even they know that. We are working on a distress formula as per the rule and we will act according to it.”
WATER RELEASE TO TAMIL NADU
An official of the water resource department said that in July, water was released to Tamil Nadu as per the instructions of CWC. “Tamil Nadu is likely to rake up the issue soon. This year, we have not received normal rainfall and obviously it will hit the release of water to neighbouring states. It is not just KRS, even the Hemavathi and Kabini dams too have shortage of water. We are hoping that in September, the situation would improve; otherwise, supply of water for agriculture will be hit in the region,” said an official.
This year, the inflow of water has come down drastically in mid-monsoon season, and the dam which is 124-foot high has water level only up to 104 feet. This is the first time in the last two years that BWSSB is facing a shortage of water supply from the dam.
According to BWSSB officials, if the situation continues, drinking water supply to the city will be hit after October, with the situation likely to deteriorate further after February next year.
A BWSSB official said December and January are usually considered the lean period, but due to lack of water in the dam, supply of drinking water will be hit by October itself.
“We lift water from Shiva Anecut and there should be normal inflow of 600 cusecs. But this year, there is shortfall of rain and we fear it will not remain the same,” he said.
The city requires 1,400 MLD of water every day, and the official said if the BWSSB does not get water in adequate quantity, the supply to households will have to be curtailed.
“If we face water crisis Instead of every alternate day, water supply would be reduced to once in every three or four days,” he said.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, water resource minister MB Patil said due to shortage of rainfall, inflow of water has been reduced in almost all dams in the state.
Commenting on the water availability in KRS, the minister said, “As of now, priority has been given only to drinking water supply. Regional commissioners will take a call based on the requirement of the water.”
When asked about releasing water to Tamil Nadu, he said, “We have reached distress stage and even they know that. We are working on a distress formula as per the rule and we will act according to it.”
WATER RELEASE TO TAMIL NADU
An official of the water resource department said that in July, water was released to Tamil Nadu as per the instructions of CWC. “Tamil Nadu is likely to rake up the issue soon. This year, we have not received normal rainfall and obviously it will hit the release of water to neighbouring states. It is not just KRS, even the Hemavathi and Kabini dams too have shortage of water. We are hoping that in September, the situation would improve; otherwise, supply of water for agriculture will be hit in the region,” said an official.
