Linganamakki reservoir nears full capacity; KPCL issues first water release notice

Honnnavar: Thanks to consistent rainfall, the water level in the Linganamakki reservoir continues to rise and has now reached 1801.10 feet, leaving just 18 feet before it reaches full capacity. As of now, the reservoir is 61.12% full. In response to the increasing inflow, the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) has issued its first preliminary notice to residents living along the Sharavathi River basin in Honnnavar taluk, indicating a possible water release.

According to guidelines, warning notices are typically issued when the dam reaches 65%, 75%, and 85% of its capacity. To avoid any risk of flooding, water is released gradually before or after the dam crosses 1815 feet, depending on rainfall in the catchment area and inflow estimates.

To inform the public about potential water level increases in the Sharavathi basin, markings in different colors have been made on trees and buildings along both banks of the river. Although the notice mentions water could be released without further warning once the dam reaches 80% capacity, KPCL has stated that announcements will be made through media and loudspeakers across affected areas. The timing of the release is planned to coincide with the Arabian Sea’s ebb tides to minimize downstream impact.

Water released from Linganamakki first fills the Gerusoppa tailrace reservoir, which takes around six hours to fill before the overflow reaches other parts of the river. This delay provides time for people in low-lying areas to move to safer locations, a key safety arrangement made by KPCL.

Rainwater from tributaries like Kalkatte, Magod, Hadinabal, and Bhaskeri further adds to the Sharavathi’s flow between Gerusoppa and Honnnavar, complicating flood predictions. Notably, on this same date last year, Linganamakki’s water level was only 1778.15 feet, with just 34.03% of the dam filled—less than half of the current level.

Once the reservoir crosses 1800 feet, its catchment area significantly expands, and it’s estimated that with 12 hours of continuous rain, the level could rise by 1 to 2 feet per day. By this calculation, the dam could reach full capacity within a week.

In the 1980s, when Linganamakki reached its peak capacity of 1817 feet and water wasn’t immediately released, intense rainfall caused a sudden surge of 4 lakh cusecs in a single day, prompting the opening of all gates. This led to massive flooding along the riverbanks, damaging several villages. Debris from Shivamogga district was swept into the Arabian Sea.

Authorities are confident that such devastation won’t occur again, and that controlled releases—even small ones—will create an impressive Jog Falls spectacle, drawing in tourists to witness the majestic flow.