JOIN USWater crisis in several districts of north Karnataka may aggravate in the coming days with the water level in Almatti reservoir dropping below dead-storage. The 519.60-metre high Almatti reservoir can store 123 tmcft of water.
The dead-storage level for the dam is 506.87 metre with 17.620 tmcft of water. On Friday, the water level dropped to 506.85 metre, 0.02 m below the dead-storage. Water level may drop further given the high rate of evaporation due to scorching summer. The water level in the dam has reached dead storage on a very few occasions in the last 10 years.
The reservoir has received only 117 tmcft of water during 2015-16 (April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016). According to sources, this is the lowest inflow since 2002 when the dam became operational.
In order to conserve water, the dam authorities had stopped release of water to the command areas since December 3, 2015 itself. However, the depletion in the water storage is attributed to release of water to Yadgir, Vijayapura and Kalaburagi districts for drinking purposes. Moreover, 3 tmcft of water was released in the span of a month to meet the water needs of the Raichur Thermal Power Station.
Several jackwells from which water is drawn to various towns are situated above the dead-storage level. As a result, such towns may face water crisis.
Almatti dam zone Chief Engineer C Anantharamu said that the authorities concerned had been directed to set up temporary jackwells making use of floating boats and thus ensure water supply.