Moderate to heavy rain that lashed the catchments at regular intervals since the commencement of monsoon has given a fresh lease of life to at least four of many bone dry tributaries of the Cauvery in Mandya and Ramanagaram districts.
Shimsha, Lokapavani and Veeravaishnavi in Mandya district, and Arkavathi in Ramanagaram district are some of the main tributaries of the Cauvery.
For centuries, they were the source of livelihood for several hundred villages along their course. Nevertheless, they had remained dry unable to cope with the impact of urbanisation and rampant sand quarrying on the riverbeds.
Officials at Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (CNNL) said all the four tributaries have been witnessing flow following copious rainfall in their catchments.
The Shimsha, which originates from the southern part of the Devarayanadurga Hill in Tumakuru district, is one of the main tributaries of the Cauvery. It remained dry till a few weeks ago, but is witnessing good flow now. It irrigates several hundred hectares of land besides filling a good number of tanks.
Lokapavani and Veeravaishnavi, two other rivulets of the Cauvery, were completely dry for the last five years. However, they have also been receiving waters, though the quantum is less, from the catchments for the last few days, according to officials. Lokapavani originates from Honakere hobli and joins the Cauvery after flowing through Karighatta. Veeravaishnavi flows through Bellur in Nagamangala and joins the Shimsha near Nelligere.
The hilly regions around Bellur, Nagamangala, Pandavapura and Srirangapatna are the catchment areas of these two rivulets. They were a major drinking water source for villagers and their cattle.
“Pond-like structures have been also formed at many places on the dry bed of these rivulets,” a senior CNNL officer said.
Arkavathi river
The recent rain has also rejuvenated the Arkavathi, as the river has been getting waters from the catchment areas. The rivulet originates at Nandi Hills in Chickballapur district and merges with the Cauvery at Sangama near Kanakapura in Ramanagaram district.
One can see a good quantum of water flowing in the river from the bridge on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway in Ramanagaram town. However, weeds have spread across a major part of the river as sewage continues to flow in. Similarly, Vrishabhavati, a tributary of the Arkavathi, which is fed through sewage from Bengaluru, has swelled in volume.
According to the officials, some other rivulets/streams such as the Kumudavathi, Suvarnamukhi, Kanihalla, Chikkahole, Hebbahalla, Mullahalla and Kanva in Ramanagaram district have also been witnessing water flow on regular intervals (after rain). The flow in Suvarnavathi, a tributary in Chamarajanagar district, has also increased owing to frequent rain.
