Monsoon revival triggers release of nearly 5.5 tmcft from Kabini dam in three days
Following the warning of extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Kerala, including Wayanad, the inflow into Kabini dam in Mysuru district is expected to remain
Following the warning of extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Kerala, including Wayanad, the inflow into Kabini dam in Mysuru district is expected to remain steady in the coming days, with the dam authorities closely monitoring the situation amid the forecast and the expectation of enhanced inflows. With the reported ‘Orange Alert’ upgraded to ‘Red Alert’ in certain districts of the neighbouring State, resulting in heavy downpour, a further rise in the inflow was foreseen. Almost the same quantity of water received by the dam was being released into the river to ensure the dam’s safety even as the reservoir level is nearly two feet short to reach the full reservoir level (FRL). The inflow was 27,988 cusecs at 8 a.m. on Tuesday (August 4), and almost the same quantity of water was discharged into the river.
The outflow was 27,000 cusecs at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Sources at the Kabini Reservoir Division in H.D. Kote said nearly 5.5 tmcft of water had been discharged into the river since the inflow into the reservoir rose following the revival of monsoon in Kerala. “Monsoon revived in parts of Kerala on July 30 and 31, and the inflow went up on Sunday (August 2). On the same day, water was discharged from the dam. In a span of three days, about 5.5 tmcft of surplus water was released into the river,” the sources added. As per the IMD’s revised rain alert, Wayanad was on ‘Red Alert’ on Tuesday (August 4), with forecasts of heavy rainfall. Till August 9-10, there is a rain forecast, with warnings sometimes even upgraded in case of a prediction of heavy downpour, noted sources.
This monsoon season, the total discharge from the dam first crossed 25,000 cusecs on Saturday (August 1) night, when the inflow rose substantially and the authorities had to step up the outflow from 13,000 cusecs (released in the morning). However, the outflow decreased to less than 10,000 cusecs the next morning (August 2) but increased again in the evening, once again crossing 25,000 cusecs in view of a steady inflow. On Monday (August 3) and Tuesday (August 4), the outflow was at the rate of 25,000 cusecs. Meanwhile, in Kodagu, the monsoon has weakened, with only an average of 8.9 mm rain recorded in 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday (August 4). Only Hudikeri recorded rainfall above 50 mm. The village has recorded 66.8 mm rain since Monday.
Bhagamandala, a prime catchment for Cauvery river, which recorded heavy rainfall over the last few days, received 47.6 mm rain. The cessation of rain activity in parts of Kodagu decreased inflow into Harangi dam near Kushalnagar. The inflow was 7,147 cusecs while the outflow was 6,291 cusecs. Around 500 cusecs were released into the canal. Nevertheless, a rain warning in south-interior Karnataka, including Kodagu, has been issued till August 9. Based on the rain data of Monday (August 3), rainfall has receded in the coffee land, and may revive in the coming days, improving the storage in reservoirs in the Cauvery basin.
The BriefWire