Farmers cheer as water touches the brim in Bhadra dam

SHIMOGA: Farmers of Shimoga, Davangere and Haveri districts are overjoyed to see the water level touching the brim of the Bhadra dam at B R Project and are flocking to the dam to behold the beauty of the water gushing out sluices which were opened.
With good rain in the catchment areas covering major parts of Chikmaglur district, the 186 feet dam has touched its maximum level.Built across the river Bhadra, which originates in Varaha hills, the dam was commissioned during 1965, at the cost of Rs 149 crore. It is a major source of water for drinking and irrigation to lakhs of people in Malnad and dry areas.
Farmers completely depend on the water from this dam to grow ragi, kharif and food crops on 65,000 hectares and plantation crops on 55,000 heaters. Paddy, areca, maize, sugarcane and groundnuts are the major crops grown by farmers in the region. The Bhadra Development Authority releases water through left and right bank canals measuring 77km and 103km respectively, during every season, depending on water level in the dam.
A 4.29km long tunnel has been constructed near Hiremali village near Channagiri to enable free flow of canal water to higher plains of Davanagere district. The mordernization of nearly 80% of the canal has a prevented wastage of a large quantity of water through seepage. This has helped tail-end farmers also get water for their fields.
The Bhadra dam has achieved fame as the visitors' paradise due to its attractive ambience and natural beauty. A plan has been proposed to develop a beautiful garden along the lines of the KRS Brindavan Gardens.