Vijayapura: With the rains finally giving respite and inflow into the dam being reduced, the people of at least 100 villages in Bagalakote and Vijayapura are now heaving a sigh of relief from floods.
According to the officials, the water level is receding in Krishna, Ghataprabha and Bheema Rivers of both the Districts.
Till about four days ago, the villages located alongside Krishna, Ghataprabha and Bheema Rivers were facing flood threat as all the three rivers were flowing in spate in the region. This had forced both the District Administrations to keep SDRF teams on stand-by in Raichur and Belagavi.
However, with the rain taking a break in the Western Ghats and catchment areas of all the above three rivers, the inflow is showing a decreasing trend for the past 24 hours. Even the outflow from Lal Bahadur Shastri Water Reservoir (Almatti Dam) and Ujani Dam has been lessened.
According to an official of Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited (KBJNL), “The inflow to Almatti Dam stands at 1.94 lakh cusecs and the average outflow of last 24 hours recorded 1.4 lakh cusecs. At present 1.25 lakh cusecs water is being discharged to the downstream. In the span of one week, the water storage has reduced from 97 percent to 86.07 percent.”
“The present water storage stands at 105.872 tmc as against the total capacity of 123.01 tmc. The water level stands at 518.55 m against the maximum capacity of 519.6 m. The water discharge will be altered based on the inflow. The water inflow likely to discharge as low rain is being reported in catchment areas, added an official from KBJNL, who wished to remain anonymous.
It may be noted that, the authorities of KBJNL were discharging a whopping 2.5 lakh cusecs of water from Almatti Dam till evening of Monday August 15. The water outflow reduced only after the rainfall showed a decreasing trend in catchment areas.
Even the authorities at Ujani Dam have reduced the outflow to the downstream. Around 25 villages of Indi, Almel, Chadachan and Sindagi were cautioned of floods as huge amounts of water was being discharged from reservoirs to Bheema River. Now, the outflow has been reduced by nearly half. The movement of vehicles has been allowed on the bridges, which was restricted due to overflow of the river, built against the Bheema River.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde applauded the officials of KBJNL for proper water management this season in the flood review meeting held at Kolhapur recently. “This year, despite heavy rains, the intensity of the water discharge from Almatti Dam was well planned. The officials of the Irrigation Department have done wonderful work by averting the floods with proper water management.”
