Mysuru, 22 June

The KRS (Krishna Raja Sagara) dam in Srirangapatna Taluk of Mandya district has only five feet left to reach its maximum capacity, officials said on Sunday.

The dam's water level stood at 119.40 feet on Sunday, while its full capacity is 124.8 feet. The dam has a maximum storage capacity of 49.452 TMC ft, and it currently holds 39.118 TMC ft of water.

Usually, the dam fills to its brim by the end of July or August, but this year. However, officials said if the current inflow – hovering around 13,359 cusecs – continued, the dam is likely to reach its full capacity within the next three days. This is because of heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the Cauvery River, including in Madikeri and Harangi Dam, from the last week of May till mid-June.       

This year's early surge has brought relief to farmers, as nearby lakes and ponds are also filling up, recharging groundwater and ensuring better irrigation prospects. Usually, after the dam’s water level crosses 100 feet, it takes some time to reach the maximum level.