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.On Aug 28, the reservoir recorded an inflow of 8,589 cusecs and an outflow of 7,179 cusecs. By Sept 1, inflow had fallen to 3,996 cusecs, while outflow increased to 8,718 cusecs.On Thursday, Sept 3, inflow fell further to 3,028 cusecs while outflow rose to 9,253 cusecs. With outflow continuing to exceed inflow, the gap between the two has widened.According to the latest figures, the water level at KRS reservoir stood at 108.76 feet Thursday against its maximum storage level of 124.8 feet. The sharp reduction in inflow and sustained high outflow are being closely watched amid concerns over available storage and continued downstream releases.The water release from KRS dam was stepped up as the outflow from Kabini dam in HD Kote, Mysuru district, dropped significantly. While over 8,000 cusecs was released till recently, as on Thursday 8am was.Kabini dam accounted for most of the water released to Tamil Nadu following a directive from the Cauvery Water Management Authority in mid-July.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. Experts have warned that the region is likely to receive deficient rainfall in September as well.Former KSNDMC director G Srinivasa Reddy said the rainfall deficit is likely to persist in Sept. 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.According to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) data, 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%.Shivamogga recorded a 36% deficit, followed by Chikkamagaluru (34%), Hassan (33%) and Kodagu (31%).The weak monsoon has also affected inflows into major reservoirs. 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.The three major hydel reservoirs in Malnad, Linganamakki, Supa and Varahi, are at 62% capacity. Their combined capacity is 328.21 TMC, while current storage stands at 202.74 TMC against 306.53 TMC a year ago.
