Weak monsoon leaves Karnataka reservoirs only 40% full

Mangalore Today News Network

Hubballi, Jul 17, 2026: Karnataka’s reservoirs are currently only 40 per cent full as the state continues to face a weak monsoon and rising temperatures, according to the latest data released by the Water Resources Department.

Although the monsoon briefly revived in early July, inflows into the state’s reservoirs have declined significantly over the past week.

During the first half of July, the state’s 11 major multi-purpose reservoirs received 142.7 tmcft of water, with Almatti Reservoir accounting for 69.13 tmcft of the total inflow.

The data shows that the seven reservoirs in the Krishna basin are at 49 per cent of their total storage capacity, while the four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin are at 50 per cent capacity.

The Krishna basin has a total storage capacity of 452.87 tmcft, but currently holds only 223.61 tmcft, compared to 367.21 tmcft during the same period last year.

Similarly, the Cauvery basin, with a total storage capacity of 114.57 tmcft, now contains just 57.54 tmcft, nearly half its capacity.

Heavy rainfall over parts of the Western Ghats and southern Maharashtra between July 6 and 10 had temporarily boosted inflows into the Krishna basin. However, inflows into most reservoirs in both river basins have since dropped sharply.

Almatti, Karnataka’s largest reservoir with a capacity of 123 tmcft, saw no inflow until July 5. Over the following four days, inflows crossed one lakh cusecs per day, peaking at nearly 1.43 lakh cusecs on July 10. By July 16, however, inflow had fallen drastically to just 1,904 cusecs. The reservoir is currently at 73 per cent of its capacity.

The adjoining Narayanpur Reservoir, which balances Almatti’s storage, has received no fresh inflows and presently holds 19.30 tmcft of water.

The Tungabhadra Reservoir, with a capacity of 105.79 tmcft, has received 17 tmcft of water this month and currently stores only 25.83 tmcft (24 per cent), compared with 80 tmcft at the same time last year. Its inflow declined to 4,818 cusecs on Thursday.

A former senior official associated with the Tungabhadra reservoir warned that the present storage may not even be sufficient to meet drinking water needs for the next three to four months.

"Evaporation will further reduce storage, making the release of water for irrigation virtually impossible," the official said.

The Ghataprabha Reservoir received nearly 13 tmcft of water by mid-July and currently stores 20 tmcft, about 40 per cent of its total capacity. Inflows have fallen to 2,226 cusecs due to scanty rainfall in the Khanapur region of Belagavi district.

Despite the temporary increase in water levels following early July rains, storage in the Krishna basin remains well below last year’s levels for the same period.

The situation in the Cauvery basin is equally concerning. Together, its four major reservoirs hold 57.54 tmcft of water, compared with 108.06 tmcft on the corresponding date last year.

Among them, Kabini Reservoir recorded the highest inflow, adding 9.79 tmcft to reach 12.13 tmcft, or 62 per cent of its storage capacity.

The Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Reservoir, the largest in the Cauvery basin, received 9.21 tmcft during the same period and currently stores 17.74 tmcft against its total capacity of 49.45 tmcft.

Current inflows into the four Cauvery basin reservoirs range between 1,012 and 1,900 cusecs, indicating a continued slowdown in monsoon activity.