The Hindu              22.05.2013

Water crisis continues, city falls short of 350 mld

Officials wait for reservoir level to rise to resume supply.

Although the inflow of water from Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam and the Hemavathi river to Shiva Balancing Reservoir (SBR) — from where water is drawn to the city — has improved considerably, the water crisis continued to stress Bangaloreans on Monday.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), which was so far drawing 1150 million litres of water per day (mld) through all the four stages of the Cauvery, is now drawing only 800 mld taking the shortage to 350 mld.

Following Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s directions, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd. released nearly 1,200 cusecs from the KRS in the last two days and the Water Resources Department, a total of 5,300 cusecs from the Hemavathi in the last three days.

However, not all this water has reached the Shiva Balancing Reservoir because of lack of pressure, encroachments and uneven surfaces en route .

BWSSB officials said that the situation is likely to stabilise in another 48 hours once the KRS level is replenished.

The BWSSB has now started rationing water to ensure equitable supply. While pumps attached to the Cauvery 3{+r}{+d}and 4{+t}{+h}stages were shut down on Saturday and Sunday respectively, officials said that 15 pumps of the 1{+s}{+t}and 2{+n}{+d}stages were stopped on Monday.

“We are doing this to ensure that all areas are not affected simultaneously. Normal supply is likely to resume in the next two days after the water level at Shiva Balancing Reservoir increases,” an official said.

Private suppliers

Cashing in on the unprecedented water crisis this year, private suppliers have almost doubled their rates, especially in east Bangalore where water shortage is a perennial problem.

Shot up

In areas such as Malleswaram, the rate of a 4,000-litre tanker of water (Rs. 400 till a few days ago) has shot up to Rs. 700 and in Sanjaynagar, from Rs. 400 to Rs. 900, according to residents.

Deccan Herald               21.05.2013

Hemavathi water may take care of Bangalore needs for 20 days

The diversion of water into the Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS) reservoir from the Hemavathi may ease some of water hardships faced by Bangalore, at least for the next 20 days.

In addition, 0.5 TMC ft of water could be drawn from Harangi to provide drinking water to the City and villages along the waterway. “Consequently, Bangalore’s water requirement can be assured as being filled for the next one month,” a top government official said.

According to the official, water up to two TMC ft has been diverted from Hemavathi into the KRS dam over the last 10 days, despite vociferous opposition from the residents of Hassan. “Water levels in Shiva Ankut, the storage capacity for the Torekadanahalli pumping station has increased over the last couple of days from 40 to 46 feet as of Monday,” he said.

An official added the water catchment areas near KRS dam have also been deepened with delicate tweaking. The increase in the depth of the KRS dam would help in strengthening the force of water flow to the pumping station.

Sources state that the stiff opposition over the release of water from the Hemavathi reservoir to the KRS by the farmers of Hassan was a major concern. “Keeping in mind the volatile situation, water up to the tune of one TMC ft was released one week ago during night time,” an official said.

At the other end, in the Krishna River basin, sources state that water levels in Almatti Dam is at a “comfortable” level. Water levels at the Almatti reservoir was sufficient to last out the summer.  Water levels at the Bhadra reservoir is also said to be sufficient until the first week of July.

BWSSB breathes easy

In a press statement, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has said that the water position is likely to improve in the next two days.

 “Action has been taken at various fronts during the last few days on the directions of the chief minister to improve water supply to Bangalore. Water is being regularly released now from the KRS dam. Some water is also released from the Hemavathi reservoir to replenish KRS’s water level,” the release said.

 The BWSSB has appealed to citizens to use the Cauvery water judiciously so that it can be made available to all residents.