Mysuru: In a key decision aimed at supporting farmers, officials of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam (CNN) have announced that water will be released for standing perennial sugarcane crops from May 12 for a period of 15 days. The move follows a decision taken at the recent Irrigation Consultation Committee (ICC) meeting held on Saturday.

Officials clarified that the duration and pattern of water release may be adjusted depending on the pre-monsoon rainfall conditions in the region.

Assurances on drinking water supply

Despite the planned irrigation release, authorities have assured that there is adequate water storage in the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam to meet drinking water requirements for Mysuru and Bengaluru districts until the end of June.

As of Saturday, the water level at KRS dam stood at 92.70 ft, against its full capacity of 124.80 ft. Officials noted that approximately 2 tmcft of water per month is required to cater to drinking water needs in the two districts.

In addition, around 300 cusecs of water may be released daily into the river for environmental purposes, particularly if there is no rainfall in the coming weeks.

Background of irrigation releases

Officials highlighted that water release for irrigation began in July 2025 and continued intermittently based on crop requirements and storage levels.

Irrigation was briefly halted between December 16 and 22 before resuming for paddy crops, standing sugarcane, and tank-filling purposes until January 3, 2026.

Subsequently, as per the ICC decision in January, water was released for sugarcane crops from January 12 using an “18 days on and 12 days off” cycle. This pattern was implemented four times over the following months until the end of April.

The upcoming May 12 release is part of continued efforts to sustain standing crops ahead of the monsoon.

Lifeline for extensive command area

The KRS dam plays a crucial role in irrigating vast agricultural lands across Mysuru and Mandya districts. The total command area under the project covers approximately 3,39,136 acres.

This includes:

  • 1,95,972 acres under the Visvesvaraya Canal
  • 63,164 acres under various canals such as Chikkadevaraya, Devaraya, Virija, Banagaradoddi, Rajaparameshwari, Ramaswamy and Madav Mantri canals
  • Around 80,000 hectares under the D Devaraja Urs (Varuna) canal

Farmers in these regions depend heavily on regulated water releases from KRS to sustain crops like sugarcane and paddy.

Current reservoir status

Data from May 2 indicates that reservoirs in the Cauvery river basin are operating below full capacity.

  • Total storage across major dams stood at 44.50 tmcft (39%) against a gross capacity of 114.57 tmcft
  • KRS dam had 17.61 tmcft (36%) against its capacity of 49.45 tmcft
  • Kabini reservoir held 6.35 tmcft (33%) against 19.52 tmcft capacity, with a level of 2257.28 ft
  • Hemavathi reservoir had 17.34 tmcft (47%) against its capacity of 37.10 tmcft, with a level of 2895.84 ft
  • Harangi reservoir stored 3.20 tmcft (38%) against 8.50 tmcft capacity, with a level of 2827.29 ft

Comparison with last year

For context, on May 3 last year, the total storage across these reservoirs was higher at 50.65 tmcft.

  • KRS had 19.07 tmcft with a level of 94.89 ft
  • Kabini had 9.05 tmcft with a level of 2264.28 ft
  • Hemavathi stored 19.09 tmcft with a level of 2898.95 ft
  • Harangi had 3.44 tmcft with a level of 2831.90 ft

The current lower storage levels underscore the importance of careful water management until the onset of the southwest monsoon.

Conclusion

The decision to release water for sugarcane crops reflects a balanced approach between supporting agricultural needs and conserving water for essential use. With reservoir levels slightly lower than last year, authorities are closely monitoring rainfall patterns to guide further decisions.

Farmers in the command area are expected to benefit from the timely release, while officials remain focused on ensuring adequate drinking water supply and sustainable resource management ahead of the monsoon season.