Hundreds of families in several villages along the Cauvery on the downstream of Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) are facing a threat of being marooned as the authorities concerned have stepped up the discharge from the reservoir.
The KRS near Srirangapatna in Mandya district is filled to the maximum level of 124.8 ft. and the Irrigation Department has been discharging a large quantum of water into the river since Wednesday evening. Whilst the outflow was at the rate of 41,073 cusecs at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday, it had risen to 50,283 cusecs at 6.30 a.m. on Thursday.
Subsequently, a threat of floods was looming large over several villages in the vicinity of the reservoir, senior Revenue officials said.
The floodwaters has entered the Sai Baba temple near Srirangapatna and several houses in the historic Pashchima Vahini near Srirangapatna, where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed, and some houses at Enne Hole Koppalu in Pandavapura taluk, on Thursday morning.
The ‘Chita Bhasma’ memorial at Pashchima Vahini is completely submerged.
The Revenue Department has identified several vulnerable areas along the banks of the river in Srirangapatna and Pandavapura taluks, where the floodwaters might enter any time. They include Enne Hole Koppalu, Balamuri, Chikka Mandagere, Kari Manti, Mandagere, Mahadevapura, Gadde Hosuru, Bidarahalli, Bandi Hole, Dodda Palya, some parts of Srirangapatna, Srinivasa Agrahara, Katte Halli, Katte Kyathana Halli, Mavinakere and Sangapura.
Cauvery is in spate due to increase in discharge from KRS and the district administration is geared up to deal with the situation. The Revenue Department had appealed to the people living in low-lying area to be cautious while going near the river, B. Vani, Assistant Commissioner (Pandavapura subdivision), told The Hindu.
Meanwhile, the Mandya district Police Department has drawn up a plan to deal with the possible floods and has instructed its staff to be alert.
“We have arranged boats, lifejackets, wireless sets and other necessary equipment to deal with the situation that may arise due to floods,” M. Puttamadaiah, Additional Superintendent of Police, said.
D.S. Shivakumara Swamy, Pandavapura Tahsildar, said that he had already visited Enne Hole Koppalu, a most vulnerable village in Pandavapura taluk, and requested the people living there to move to safer places, if the water-level in the river were to rise. “We have instructed the anganwadi centre at Enne Hole Koppalu to close, if the floodwaters entered its premises,” Mr. Swamy said.
The threat of floods is also looming large over the Government High School at Dodda Palya village in Srirangapatna taluk.
“We will ask the authorities concerned to close the school, if the waters enter the school. We have already kept expert swimmers and other staff to tackle the situation ready,” M. Mallikarjun, Srirangapatna Tahsildar, told The Hindu.
