Owing to the fast depletion of the water-level at the Vani Vilas Sagar in Hiriyur taluk in the district, there is a possibility that Chitradurga city and Hiriyur taluk could face shortage of drinking water in the coming months.
The Vani Vilas Sagar was constructed across the Vedavati, by the kings of Mysore during the 1890s to provide water for drinking and irrigation in the surrounding areas. The dam, however, has not reached its full capacity in the last nine decades owing to various reasons, including scanty rainfall in the region.
Presently, the water-level in the dam is about 68.5 ft against the full reservoir level of 145 ft, and the dead storage level is 60 ft. Silt accumulation There is a considerable decrease in the storage capacity of the dam owing to silt accumulation. No steps have been taken to remove silt from the dam since its construction, sources said. The water available in the dam can be supplied for another two months, sources said. Apart from Chitradurga city and Hiriyur taluk, water has to also be supplied to premier institutes such as ISRO, DRDO and India Reserve Battalion as per agreements signed with them.
The authorities have also granted permission for the construction of barrages at some places across the Vedavati in Kallod and check-dams at certain places, which would further reduce the flow of water to the dam. Instead of granting permission for construction of barrages and check-dams, the authorities should first remove silt from the dam as it had considerably affected storage capacity, sources added.
