Hidkal dam to touch maximum level soon

BELAGAVI: It promises to be a good summer with Raja Lakhamgouda Dam also called Hidkal dam likely to reach full reservoir level (FRL) in the next few days.
The dam built in 1977 is the source of drinking water for Belagavi, Vijayapura and Bagalkot cities. Apart from it, it irrigates over 3 lakh hectares of agriculture land. It was not reached FRL in the past two years. With the region receiving good rainfall, there is satisfactory inflow of water from Ghatprabha river in the catchment area which helped it store 38.42 tmc water as of July 20.

Last year on July 20, the dam had only 17.68 tmc water making it impossible to release water from the dam for agricultural activities. About 18 MGD of water is supplied to Belagavi city from this dam every day while water is also supplied to 22 villages including Sankeshwar, Hukkeri and Yamkanmardi towns from this dam under the multi- village scheme.

Kariyappa CN, executive engineer, KUWSDB, said, "Due to good rainfall this year, Hidkal dam will reach FRL level in the next eight days. Rakaskop reservoir is already full and the gates have been opened. No shortage of water is expected this year," he said.