TB reservoir nears dead storage, 4 districts face drinking water scare

Munirabad (Koppal): Water levels in the Tungabhadra reservoir, a lifeline for the Kalyana Karnataka region, have dipped to around 10.1 tmcft, close to dead storage, triggering concerns over drinking water availability in riparian districts of Koppal, Ballari, Raichur and Vijayanagara.Officials of the Tungabhadra Board said the reservoir has reached a critical stage, with the remaining storage largely reserved for drinking water. Against the dam's total capacity of 105 tmcft, the sharp depletion has made water management challenging as the region waits for monsoon inflows.As water levels approach the dead storage mark — below which water cannot be drawn through normal outlets — authorities have begun prioritising domestic supply over irrigation and industrial requirements.ORK Reddy, secretary of the Tungabhadra Board, said water is being released through the left and right bank canals to fill key tanks to support drinking water needs. However, he said sustaining supply till June is difficult due to peak summer conditions and high evaporation losses.The situation has put pressure on urban and rural water supply systems dependent on the reservoir. Several towns and villages draw Tungabhadra water through canals, pipelines and local storage structures, and officials indicated that supply schedules may be regulated if levels fall further.Authorities said strict regulation and careful allocation of the available water will be crucial in the coming weeks, as demand remains high. District administrations have stepped up monitoring and are likely to enforce restrictions to curb non-essential use.Meanwhile, a major technical upgrade aimed at improving dam safety has been completed. Repair and replacement of 33 crest gates were carried out at a cost of about Rs 54 crore. Experts said the refurbished gates are expected to function without major technical issues for the next 50 years.The upgraded gates are scheduled to be formally inaugurated on May 15 by the chief minister or deputy chief minister.While the completion of gate restoration has brought some reassurance, officials said the immediate concern remains the acute water shortage. They reiterated that drinking water supply will be given top priority, with contingency measures under review. With inflows currently minimal, the next few weeks are expected to be critical for water management across the region.