Water levels in Karnataka’s major reservoirs remain an important point of attention as the monsoon season progresses. On September 17, Almatti in Vijayapura continues to remain close to full capacity, while reservoirs in the Cauvery basin are also holding significant quantities of water.
The latest available data shows Almatti at about 98.7 percent of its gross storage capacity, with around 121.431 TMC of water stored. Its reported water level is about 1704.408 feet against a full reservoir level of 1704.72 feet. The reservoir is therefore only a small distance below its maximum level.
Almatti is one of the key reservoirs in the Krishna basin and its water position is closely watched because of its importance for irrigation and downstream water management. The latest available report also shows no measurable inflow at the time of the observation.
The Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir, commonly known as KRS, is also maintaining a considerable amount of water. Data for September 17 places its level at around 105.66 feet, while storage stands at approximately 27,581 million cubic feet. The recorded inflow is about 4,834 cusecs and the outflow is around 5,219 cusecs.
KRS is particularly important for the Cauvery basin and remains closely monitored because of its role in irrigation and water supply. The difference between inflow and outflow can change throughout the day depending on reservoir operations and conditions downstream.
Kabini is another major reservoir being watched in the Cauvery basin. The September 17 figures show the reservoir holding about 10.949 TMC, which is around 56 percent of its total capacity of 19.516 TMC. Its reported level is around 49.47 feet against a full level of 65 feet.
The latest Kabini data also records an inflow of about 1,091 cusecs. The outflow reported in the same dataset is around 1,000 cusecs. These figures indicate that water continues to move through the reservoir, although the levels are well below the maximum storage level.
Basava Sagar, also known as Narayanapura reservoir, is another important water storage facility in northern Karnataka. It plays a major role in the Krishna basin and supports irrigation in surrounding areas. The water level and release pattern at the reservoir can vary according to inflows and operational requirements.
The overall reservoir situation is being followed closely because water stored during the monsoon is important for agriculture and drinking water requirements in the months ahead. Reservoir levels can change quickly when rainfall increases or when authorities release more water for downstream requirements.
The latest data also highlights differences between individual reservoirs. While Almatti is almost at its full level, KRS and Kabini have substantial storage but remain below their respective maximum levels. Such differences are normal because each reservoir receives water from a different catchment and is operated according to local requirements.
For comparison, the latest available reservoir data records KRS at 105.66 feet and Kabini at 49.47 feet on September 17. Their storage levels stand at about 27,581 million cubic feet and 10,949 million cubic feet respectively.
The National Water Data Portal also maintains daily manual reservoir information collected from observation stations operated by the Karnataka Water Department. The dataset is updated periodically and provides reservoir level information for monitoring water conditions across the state.
With the monsoon season still influencing water inflows, the figures may change from one update to another. Rainfall in the catchment areas, irrigation releases and downstream requirements can all affect both reservoir storage and the amount of water being released.
For residents, farmers and people dependent on these reservoirs, the latest numbers provide a useful picture of the state’s water position. Almatti remains particularly close to its maximum level, while KRS and Kabini continue to maintain sizeable storage in the Cauvery basin.
