Rainfall improves in Karnataka; inflow for reservoirs remains weak

Of the 31 districts in the state, 22 are in the red, receiving 20-59 per cent less rainfall than normal.

Bengaluru | Updated: July 10, 2023 06:49 AM IST

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After a poor spell of rainfall in June, the state recorded very heavy showers in some regions during the past week. (Express photo by Jithendra M.)

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Favourable monsoon conditions, which have resulted in very heavy rainfall in parts of Karnataka since July 1, are expected to continue in the coming week. Widespread rainfall is forecast for coastal Karnataka, along with moderate showers in other parts of the state. However, the state is not yet out of the threat of a drought due to the below-average rainfall in the catchment regions.

Bengaluru Urban is among the seven districts of the state which received normal rainfall since the late onset of the monsoon this year. Of the 31 districts in the state, 22 are in the red, receiving 20-59 per cent less rainfall than normal. Prominent among them are prime catchment districts such as Shivamogga (52 per cent less than normal), Chikkamagaluru (54 per cent less than normal), Hassan (52 per cent less than normal), and Kodagu (57 per cent less than normal).

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According to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Cell (KSNDMC) data, reservoirs in the state are yet to get significant inflows. Forecasts indicate that the monsoon conditions will remain active in the state over the course of the next week, which could improve water levels at major reservoirs of Karnataka.

After a poor spell of rainfall in June, the state recorded very heavy showers in some regions during the past week. From July 1 to 8, Coastal Karnataka received 68 per cent excess rainfall (489 mm against a normal of 291 mm), North Interior Karnataka received 35 per cent excess (34 mm against a normal of 24 mm) and South Interior Karnataka received 23 per cent excess (20 mm against a normal of 16 mm).

During the period, Karnataka as a whole received 34 per cent excess rainfall (an average of 90 mm rainfall against a normal of 67 mm). Due to this, rainfall conditions in the state – which recorded 56 per cent deficit rainfall in June (87 mm against a normal of 199 mm) – saw a slight improvement. As of July 8, the deficit was 34 per cent (177 mm rainfall against 266 mm normal).

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Water levels at major reservoirs in the state have seen a marginal improvement, even though they were nowhere near the levels recorded last year during the period. As on July 8, inflow to KRS was 13,449 cusecs and the storage in the 49.45 TMC dam was 11.69 TMC. Last year, it was at 42.34 TMC on the same date.

Inflows are yet to increase to major dams such as Tungabhadra and Almatti, located in central and north Karnataka, respectively.

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Meanwhile, responding to media queries Saturday on possibilities of cloud seeding to tackle drought, Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda said that there was no proposal yet about the same.

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Karnataka