Karnataka Dams Near Full: Authorities Discharge More Water to Prevent Floods

Karnataka Dams Near Full: On Wednesday, six Krishna basin dams — Bhadra, Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Almatti, and Narayanapura — together received 20.5 tmcft of water. The heavy inflows were mainly due to rains in Maharashtra’s catchment areas.

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Higher Discharge Than Inflow

Seven of the ten major reservoirs in Karnataka’s Cauvery and Krishna basins are currently releasing more water than they are receiving. This is a precautionary step to create storage room and reduce flood risks downstream.

Record Water Releases

Almatti dam discharged 2.5 lakh cusec against an inflow of 1.14 lakh cusec, while Narayanapura released 2.05 lakh cusec against an inflow of 1.83 lakh cusec. Overall, Karnataka released 4.04 lakh cusec to states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

Cauvery Basin Status

In the Cauvery basin, Harangi, Hemavathi, KRS, and Kabini are releasing water equal to or exceeding their inflows. With reservoirs near full levels, controlled releases are aimed at balancing storage and avoiding flooding.

Storage and Discharge Figures

As of August 20, the state’s 10 major dams (total capacity 537.02 tmcft) held 477.82 tmcft of water. Cumulative inflows to reservoirs this year stand at 1,115.8 tmcft, with discharges of 839.7 tmcft — slightly lower compared to last year, when storage was higher due to drought-like conditions in 2023.

Expert Insight

Hydro-mechanical engineer Kannaiah Naidu explained that dam authorities calculate discharge volumes based on rainfall records and expected inflows. The strategy ensures there is space for fresh water while preventing excessive downstream flooding.

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