Bhadra Dam Gates Opened in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru to Release Excess Water

Quick Summary

• Authorities opened crest gates of the Bhadra reservoir in Lakkavalli, Karnataka, due to significant rainfall in the catchment area.
• On Friday morning, water levels reached 2,146.33 ft against a full reservoir level of 2,158 ft. The gross storage was 57.63 tmcft out of a total capacity of 71.54 tmcft.
• inflow into the dam was recorded at 11,991 cusecs while outflow stood at 2,304 cusecs.
• Comparatively, on this day last year, water levels were significantly lower at 2,108 ft with gross storage recorded at just 24.24 tmcft.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The opening of the crest gates highlights proactive water management by authorities in response to increased rainfall activity in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru district during this monsoon season. With inflow far exceeding outflow rates and reservoir levels nearing capacity compared to last year’s much lower figures-an indication of improved climatic conditions-this decision is essential for preventing overflow risks and ensuring safety downstream.While it illustrates efficient use of hydrological data for flood mitigation purposes, such events underline India’s growing need for advanced predictive systems to manage reservoirs better amid increasingly erratic weather patterns brought by climate change.

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