Date:01/08/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/01/stories/2005080104940300.htm

Karnataka - Bellary

Threat of floods in Bellary district

Staff Correspondent

BELLARY: There is a threat of floods in many villages as additional water is likely to be released into the river after the dam is full, the Deputy Commissioner, Arvind Srivastav, said. He has issued an alert in villages on the banks of the river and asked villagers to move to safer places.

The Tungabhadra Dam at Hospet in Bellary district is short of the full reservoir level by 4.32 ft owing to heavy rainfall in the catchment area in the past ten days. According to the readings taken on Sunday morning, the reservoir level is 1,628.68 ft. as against the full reservoir level of 1,633 ft.

The reservoir received an inflow of 96,920 cusecs of water, which increased the storage by around 7 tmcft. The present storage at the dam is 94.90 tmcft. with a live storage of 92.90 tmcft.

The Deputy Commissioner has instructed the Superintendent of Police, Assistant Commissioners of Bellary and Hospet, and the tahsildars of Bellary, Hospet and Sirguppa taluks to take precautionary measures to ensure that people and cattle are shifted to safer places.