The Times of India              27.05.2013

Official rework strategy to supply water to Mysore and Bangalore

MYSORE: With southwest monsoon expected to hit the Kerala in the first week of June, the urban authorities entrusted to attend to water crisis are now planning to impound water at KRS dam for Mysore when Kabini dam starts to log water, which they are hoping will take care of Bangalore needs.

The strategy is to maintain the supply without depending on the single source-KRS dam, which is now under pressure to supply to the two big cities. For the record, the Kabini dam located in HD Kote some 60km from Mysore, has the record of getting water at the start of the monsoon when rains lash Kerala and fill up to the brim by July end. Its catchment area in Waynad district nets it water which starts flowing into the small reservoir of 19.52tmcft capacity within days after the arrival of monsoon.

"We are expecting rainfall in the catchment area of Kabini dam and also downstream of the dam, which will help us supply to Bangalore without having to depend on KRS Dam. The resource at KRS could then be impounded for Mysore needs," sources told The Times of India. With the weathermen predicting normal rainfall this season, which is predicted to arrive on time-normally it is first week of June-the urban authorities are reworking their strategies to cut down pressure on KRS reservoir from where both Bangalore and Mysore are drawing water presently. After the onset of monsoon, there will be demand from the farming community to supply water for irrigation purpose from KRS dam.

There is enough water to supply to twin cities for next two weeks at least. But we are reworking our strategies since we can now expect water at the other sources (Kabini dam). Since it is a small dam and fills up quite rapidly if it pours in Waynad district, we can draw water from there. Besides, the rainwater downstream of the dam will also be available for Bangalore needs, sources explained. There is a little over 1tmcft water at KRS dam while Kabini reservoir has hit deadline. The saving grace is it is a mini reservoir and its level rises steadily unlike at KRS dam that has a capacity of 49.45tmcft. Its maximum level is 124.80ft.

Given the level at KRS dam, the water flow to twin pumping stations in its vicinity-Belagola and Honghalli-is normal and the emergency pumping unit on the banks of the river downstream of KRS dam remains switched off. "We are receiving over 200 million litres per day (MLD) now. On Saturday it was 243MLD, which is regular supply," sources noted.