The Tungabhadra Project and Vijayanagara Canals Irrigation Advisory Committee (ICC) has decided to release water to Koppal, Raichur, Ballari, and Vijayanagara districts solely for drinking purposes and existing crops until November 20, citing severe rainfall deficits that preclude winter irrigation. The decision was taken during a meeting held on Monday at Vikas Soudha in Bengaluru, chaired by Koppal District Minister and ICC President Shivraj Tangadgi. Tangadgi informed the media that the reservoir currently holds 53 TMC feet of water, of which 2 TMC feet is dead storage and 3.50 TMC feet is the evaporation rate. He stated that Karnataka’s share of the remaining water is 25.25 TMC feet, Andhra Pradesh’s share is 18.50 TMC feet, and Telangana’s share is 1.50 TMC feet, and that water allocation for the four districts was based on these calculations. Tangadgi emphasized that providing drinking water to people and livestock is the government’s priority amid the drought, and that the allocation was made with the upcoming summer in mind.
The meeting was attended by former minister Boseraj, B. Nagendra, MLAs K. Raghavendra Hittana, Shivraj Patil, Nagaraj, Hampanagouda Badarli, Ganesha, Basavaraj Turavihal, and Basanagouda Badarli, along with District Collectors Dr. Suresh Itnal (Koppal), Puvitha S. (Raichur), Kavitha S. Mannikere (Vijayanagara), and Nagendra Prasad K. (Ballari), and Reddy Srinivas, District President of the Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee. The water release schedule specifies that the Tungabhadra Left Bank Main Canal will supply water to the Gane Kal Reservoir at 3,800 cusecs from August 21 to November 20, with a 200 cusec saving per section. The Right Bank Upper Canal will release 1,000 cusecs from August 21 to 24, pause from August 25 to 31, and release 1,280 cusecs from November 1 to 20. The Right Bank Lower Canal will release 650 cusecs from August 21 to November 20, or until water availability under the canal ceases, whichever comes first. The Rayabasavanna Canal will release 180 cusecs from August 21 to May 31, 2027, with a monthly schedule of 10 days of water release and 10 days of pause. The Left Bank Vijayanagara Canal will release 60 cusecs from August 21 to May 5, 2027, based on water availability.