Date:15/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/15/stories/2004071510950500.htm

Karnataka

Water to be released from Harangi Dam for irrigation

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, JULY 14. As much as 1,100 cusecs of water will be released from the Harangi Reservoir in Kodagu through the right bank and left bank canals from Thursday to help farmers irrigate achacut areas. This was decided at a meeting of the Command Area Development Authority (CADA) at Harangi on Wednesday.

Speaking to presspersons after the meeting here, the chairman of the CADA, H. Srinivas, said the quantity of water that would be released could be increased in the coming days to 1,500 cusecs or more depending on the rainfall and storage in the reservoir.

The storage at Harangi stood at 6.14 tmcft, whereas to irrigate the entire achacut area under Harangi, 16.5 tmcft of water would be required, Mr. Srinivas said. He called upon engineering officials and farmers, who are members of the water user cooperative societies, to judiciously use water. Among the four reservoirs, except Kabini, there was shortfall in Hemavathy, Harangi, and Krishnaraja Sagar, Mr. Srinivas said. In view of this, growing short duration crops would be ideal, he said.

By utilising less water last year, farmers had got a good crop, he said and hoped that they would repeat the feat this year also. To a question, Mr. Srinivas said Rs. 5,000 crore was expected to be raised by the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam to develop gardens and complete other works in the reservoir sites in the State. A sum of Rs. 1,000 crore would be utilised every year to complete the works in five years.

The Arkalgud MLA, A.T. Ramaswamy, said that according to the information provided by officials, 99,350 acres in the Harangi achacut areas would be irrigated. Of this, ragi was grown in 82,388.72 acres and paddy in the rest. Mr. Ramaswamy asked the officials concerned to monitor the water release and ensure that it reached farmers in the tail-end areas.

The Harangi Reservoir level on Wednesday increased to 2,851 feet (the maximum level is 2,859 feet). The level last year during the same period was 2,824.16 feet. The inflow measured on Wednesday was 1,349 cusecs. Harangi received 10.4 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours.

Monsoon

Monsoon showed signs of revival in the district, but no significant rainfall was noticed in the entire district.

There were reports of some rainfall in Madikeri and Bhagamandala.

Madikeri received 20.8 mm, Bhagamandala 19.2 mm, Somwarpet 7.6 mm, and Virajpet 4.8 mm, in the past 24 hours. Farmers have begun agriculture operation in the district, particularly in Virajpet taluk.