Mysore, May 22: Mysoreans, who were facing severe drinking water crisis, with a drastic dip in water level at Krishnarajasagar reservoir, can now heave a sigh of relief for at least a week, as the levels have increased slightly.
The water level on Wednesday at the reservoir stood at 66.55 ft (an increase by two ft in two days). So far (between May 20 and 22), around 10,400 cusecs of water has been released from Hemavathy reservoir. This has increased the inflow to 3,331 cusecs and outflow is 780 cusecs.
The water supply from Hemavathy has almost come to a standstill. On May 20, 4,950 cusecs of water was released to KRS; on May 21 – 4,110 cusecs; and on May 22 – 1,355 cusecs was released.
Between May 13 and 16, around 0.6 TMC water had been released from Hemavathy to KRS.
Officials said that around 200 cusecs of water is also being released from Kabini.
MLA M K Somashekar, who visited KRS along with officials told reporters that Mysore city was now receiving 148 MLD of water per day against its requirement of 200 MLD.
He said that there would be no difficulty for another eight days. The onset of monsoon would put an end to the water woes, he added.
Emergency pumps
Somashekar and the officers visited Hongalli Pumping Station, where two emergency pumps have been installed to meet the demands of the city. However, with increase in the inflow, only one pump is being operated. As it was difficult to pump the dead storage water, a passage was created to facilitate water flow to Varuna canal.
Somashekar said that drinking water was being supplied to all wards once in two or three days presently. The existing borewells are being redrilled. As many as 102 borewells were flushed and five have been redrilled. Also, seven new borewells have been installed. The city has 689 borewells with power connection.
Officials said that 200 MLD of water was necessary for urban areas. While 46 MLD was pumped from Belagola pumping stations, 40 MLD was pumped from Hongalli and 59 MLD from Melapura. Altogether just 148 MLD had been supplied to city. Wards 1, 2, 12 to 18, 21 and 23 as well as MUDA layouts are being supplied with water under Kabini Drinking Water project. They said that increase in the inflow has reduced the problems.
