Water release into Tungabhadra canals revised

Under the revised schedule, the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal will receive water at a rate of 3,800 cusecs till November 20.

The Tungabhadra Project’s Irrigation Consultative Committee has finalised a schedule for releasing water into various canals under the Tungabhadra Project and the Vijayanagara canal system, taking into account the prevailing drought conditions.

The decision was taken at the committee’s 127th meeting at the Vikas Soudha in Bengaluru on October 19, in the presence of the Speaker, Ministers, legislators, MPs, Regional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Irrigation and Agriculture department officials and farmers.

The schedule provides for water to be reserved for filling tanks to meet drinking water requirements and for agricultural needs.

Water release will, however, be subject to the stipulated periods and availability in the respective canals.

Under the schedule, the Tungabhadra Left Bank Main Canal will receive water at 3,800 cusecs till November 20. Of this, 200 cusecs from each division will be retained to supply water to the Ganekal Reservoir.

The Tungabhadra Right Bank High-Level Canal received water at 1,000 cusecs from October 21 to 24. Supply will remain suspended till October 31. It will resume on November 1 at 1,280 cusecs for 20 days thereafter or until water is available in the canal, whichever is earlier.

The Tungabhadra Right Bank Low-Level Canal will receive water at 650 cusecs till November 20 or until water lasts, whichever is earlier.

The schedule for the Raya Basavanna Canal provides for a supply of 180 cusecs till May 31, 2027. Water will be released for 10 days and stopped for the next 10 days each month, subject to availability.

The Vijayanagara Left Bank Canals will receive water at 60 cusecs till May 10, 2027, depending on water availability. Supply will cease earlier if water is no longer available.

Superintending Engineer S.B. Malligawad of the Tungabhadra Project Circle, Munirabad, who is the member-secretary of the Irrigation Consultative Committee for the Tungabhadra Project and Vijayanagara canals, announced the schedule in a statement and appealed to farmers to cooperate with the arrangements.