Water levels at the four major Cauvery basin reservoirs — KRS, Kabini, Harangi, and Hemavathi — stand at a combined 62% of total capacity as the summer season begins, according to data from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).

While the figure is marginally better than the five-year average of 58% for the same period, officials warn that the coming three months, before the southwest monsoon arrives, will be critical.

Bengaluru Water Supply

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) draws approximately 1,450 million litres per day from the Cauvery system. Officials confirmed no immediate cuts are planned, but said that if levels drop below 50%, rotation-based supply may be considered in some zones.

Peripheral areas of Bengaluru that depend on borewells rather than Cauvery water are already reporting reduced water table levels.

Mandya Farmers

In Mandya district, where sugarcane cultivation depends heavily on Cauvery irrigation, farmers are watching the KRS reservoir closely. The current storage is adequate for one more round of irrigation, but a second round before the monsoon remains uncertain.

“We planted in December counting on water through May,” said a farmer from Pandavapura taluk. “If the water stops in March, the crop suffers.”

Tamil Nadu Tensions

The reduced levels also bring renewed attention to the Cauvery water-sharing agreement between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka is currently meeting its mandated release obligations, but any significant drop in storage could trigger disputes, as happened in 2023 and 2016.

The Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal has asked both states to submit updated water-use data by the end of April.