It's official: No drought in state

BANGALORE: Drought is officially
over in Karnataka. With water
levels in all major dams almost to
the brim owing to heavy rains this
year, it brings an end to the two-
year drought period in the state.
In the summer before the 2013
assembly elections, drought had
officially hit 70 per cent of
Karnataka. State government had
declared 142 of the 176 taluks as
drought-affected and had sought Rs
4,500 crore relief from the Centre.
But the latest weekly update from
the Drought Monitoring Cell shows
drought in less than 13 per cent of
the state, while another 14 per cent
is seen as abnormally dry.
Till July end, the state government
and people in the state were afraid
of insufficient rains in Karnataka.
But the last 10 days has changed
the situation with heavy rains
being reported especially in the
catchments areas of all major
rivers.
Of the 15 major dams, four,
including Almatti dam across
Krishna in Bagalkot district, are on
high alert. Three more are on alert
warning. According to data by state
water resources department, 55
small and medium sized dams
received 100% of their storage
capacity, a first in two years.
Bangalore and Mysore can cheer as
storage level in the Krishnaraja
Sagara (KRS) Dam is set to touch
maximum 124 ft following good
rains in the catchment areas of
Cauvery in Kodagu.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah can
breathe easy now as it will help
meet Karnataka's water
commitment to Tamil Nadu.
Karnataka has to release about 194
tmc of water to Tamil Nadu by the
end of monsoon and has so far
released about 34 tmc.
The lifelines of north Karnataka -
Malaprabha, Ghataprabha and
Krishna - are flowing close to the
danger level after some good rains
and Maharashtra government's
decision to increase the discharge
from its dams.
92% sowing
Meanwhile 92% sowing in the state
was reported by the state
agriculture ministry. But the rain
also is creating planting delays for
some farmers. Gopal Gowda who
grows paddy and sugarcane on
about 33 acres in Mandya said
some of his land in a watershed is
covered in several feet of water
after about 10 inches of rain in the
past two weeks. He said he's not
worried yet, because with some
warm weather, he can still get his
crop in by mid-September.
Power woes eased
People can also heave a sigh of
relief as good rains have helped
ease the grim power situation. The
water levels in Linganamakki,
Sharavathi and Gerusoppe
reservoirs, whose hydel power
generating stations account for a
third of the state's power supply,
are all brimming now due to heavy
inflow. The demand for power in
the state too has decreased because
of overcast conditions.
* Vital stats
* All dams in state receive 80% to
100% of their total water storage
capacity
* From July 2-8, state recorded
96mm of rainfall as against normal
63 mm, an increase of 52%
* Rainfall for last quarter of 2011
lowest in north interior Karnataka
since 1970
* Kharif, rabi crops for 2011-12 had
failed. Kharif crop loss was Rs 4,245
crore
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