Sowing activities in full swing in Vijayapura; dams filling up fast

VIJAYAPURA: Copious rain in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra since the last several days has increased inflow in the Krishna basin to 1,14,252 cusecs.
Almatti reservoir, which had reached the dead storage level is now half-filled. Water level in the dam has reached the 515.4 metre mark while the maximum is 519.6 metres. The reservoir has a capacity to hold 123 tmc feet of water and now it has 66.7 tmc feet.While the inflow is 25,802 cusecs, outflow is 8,000 cusecs. The rains in last 15 days helped improve inflow into the reservoir which had just 18.9 tmcft.
The Hipparagi Barrage also has received good inflow with 1.02 lakh cusecs of water coming in.
Vijayapura district normally receives 140.4mm of rain between June 1 and July 24 and this time it has received 108.3 mm, 22% less than normal. However, farmers who had given up hopes of cultivating this season have started sowing operations. According to officials in agriculture department, out of the 7,36,794 hectares of the targeted sowing area, 2,78,793 hectares have been brought under cultivation.
Maize, bajra, tur dal, urad, groundnut, cotton and sunflower are the main crops for which sowing is in progress now. The agriculture department has made necessary arrangements to distribute seeds and fertilisers through Raitha Samparka Kendras.
Deputy commissioner Bhoobalan held a meeting with officials from various departments and asked them to ensure all precautions are taken to prevent any damage due to rain and flooding.