Mysuru/ Mandya: The disparity between inflow and outflow at Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir has widened significantly in recent days, with outflow continuing to rise despite a sharp decline in inflow.
Meanwhile, the Western Ghats, the rainforest source for major rivers, has recorded a 35% rainfall deficit, resulting in poor inflows into major reservoirs and raising concerns over water availability. He estimated a 75% probability of deficient rainfall in the Western Ghats, which would mean all four months of the southwest monsoon season have recorded deficient rainfall in the region. Major command areas of the state, including Mysuru, Chamarajanagara and Mandya, are among the worst-hit districts, with rainfall deficits of 56% and 50%, respectively. Between June 1 and Sept 3, the four Malnad districts of Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga and Hassan received 915.7mm of rainfall against the normal 1,398.8mm, a deficit of 35%, according to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) data. The four major dams in the Cauvery basin, including KRS, are currently at 68% of their combined capacity. Against a gross capacity of 114.5 TMC, the reservoirs held 77.9 TMC as of Thursday, compared with 113.2 TMC on the same day last year.
Former KSNDMC director G Srinivasa Reddy said the rainfall deficit is likely to persist in Sept. Experts have warned that the region is likely to receive deficient rainfall in September as well. The weak monsoon has also affected inflows into major reservoirs.