Mandya, Mysore, July 27: Flood threat looms large over at least 15 villages in Mandya district as large quantity of water is being discharged from the Krishnaraja Sagar Reservoir (KRS) and Hemavathi dam, and water is rising in the Cauvery and the Hemavathi.
Enne Hole village in Pandavapura taluk and Hemagiri in K.R. Pet taluk have been flooded.
A few people from low-lying Mandagere village have already relocated to other villages.
Copious rains in the catchment areas of Cauvery River in Kodagu and Mandya districts may result in flooding of many more villages in the next two days.
At least 15 villages may get flooded, a senior official at the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (CNNL) told The Hindu.
CNNL officials have identified the villages that may be flooded, and have alerted residents of Enne Hole Koppalu, Chikka Mandagere, Mandagere, Gadde Hosuru, Bandi Hole, Somanathapura, Varahanatha Kallahalli, Katte Halli, Katte Kyathana Halli, Mambahalli, Belathur, Poovana Halli, Mavinakere, Ambigara Halli, Sangapura and a few other villages.
Mandya Deputy Commissioner B.N. Krishnaiah said that a few rafting boats have been arranged to deal with the possible flood situation besides providing lifejackets, wireless sets, first aid kits and other equipment to the vigilance squad personnel.
Water-level at KRS
Meanwhile, the water-level at the KRS touched 123.60 ft as against the full-reservoir level (FRL) of 124.80 ft at 6.30 p.m. on Friday.
The inflow was at the rate of 45,598 cusecs on Thursday evening. However, it increased to 62,181 cusecs at 6.30 p.m. on Friday.
The outflow at the Hemavathi dam in Gorur in Hassan on Friday was at the rate of 30,000 cusecs.
Inflow in Kabini
Heavy rains in the catchment area of Kabini River in Wayanad district of Kerala has augmented the inflow into the reservoir at Beechanahalli in H.D. Kote.
Officials in the Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Ltd (CNNL) told The Hindu that consequent to the rains, the inflow into the reservoir was at the rate of 30,102 cusecs on Friday morning and outflow was at the rate of 33,958 cusecs. However, by evening the inflow increased to nearly 35,000 cusecs following which the discharge from the reservoir was stepped up to 40,000 cusecs. The water-level at Kabini as on July 26 was 2,282.09 ft as against the full reservoir level of 2,284 ft. Due to the increase in discharge from the reservoir, the authorities have issued flood warnings to people living in the downstream of the reservoir and the banks of the river and asked them to move to safer place with their livestock.
Cumulative outflow from the reservoir from June 1 2013 as on date was nearly 52 tmcft.
Bagina at KRS
With the dams in the State reaching almost the full reservoir level, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will offer ‘bagina’ to Goddess Cauvery at the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir near Srirangapatna on August 1.
The Chief Minister of the State, normally when the reservoir reaches the FRL, offers ‘bagina’ to the reservoir which is followed as a tradition to signify thankfulness to the rain God for showering rain in catchment areas.
Though it is a practice to offer ‘bagina’ soon after the reservoirs in the State are full after copious rains, this year the model code of conduct in view of the Legislative Council bypolls has stopped elected representatives from holding such programmes. So the Mandya district administration sought the permission of the State Election Commission to offer bagina. In response to the request, the State Election Commission has permitted the Chief Minister to offer ‘bagina’ at the KRS reservoir. However, it has restricted political activities and political speech during the function, an officer at the district administration said.
Housing Minister and Mandya district in-charge M.H. Ambareesh and district administration officials will be present during the function.
