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Bleak scenario: Karnataka’s hydel storage second-lowest in last 10 years
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Linganamakki dam accounts for only 10.92% of storage as against 45.4% during the corresponding period last year. | The cumulative storage in all the three major hydel reservoirs of the State — Linganamakki, Supa, and Mani — accounted for a mere 14.9% of the full capacity at 8 a.m. on Friday (July 3), as against 44.05% of storage during the corresponding period last year.The only other time in the last 10 years when hydel storage was lesser than this level was in 2023, when the State was gripped by a serious drought. At that time, the total hydel storage accounted for a mere 12.55%, according to the statistics available with the Energy Department.Only 14.88%Though the hydel storage stood at only 14.88% at the corresponding period in 2022 too, the heavy rains in the catchment areas had pushed up the storage to 15.65% by the next day itself and to 44.8% by mid-July then.As of now, the cumulative storage in the three hydel reservoirs could help generate only 1,295 million units of power as against 3,828 million units during the corresponding period of the previous year.The reservoir-wise breakup of storage reflects a bleak picture, with Linganamakki dam accounting for only 10.92% of storage as against 45.4% during the corresponding period last year. The reservoir has reported inflows to the tune of 11,485 cusecs as against 45,070 cusecs during the corresponding period last year.Supa dam too has just 20.18% of storage as against the previous year’s level of 41.25%, and inflows of 1,825 cusecs against last year’s 36,872 cusecs. Mani dam too presents a similar scenario by accounting for a poor storage of just 16.4% as against previous year’s 46.83%. Worse, there are no inflows to this reservoir as of now.For peak managementPower experts and officials fear that the State’s power sector may face cascading problems if the storage scenario does not improve.“Karnataka depends heavily on hydel energy for effective management of its peak load. Also, the hydel energy is very economical when compared with other forms of power. Hence, any further failure of monsoon may affect the peak hour management of power supply and also force the State to buy additional power from costly sources to tide over shortage in the later stages,” observed an official, adding a rider that one has to wait for at least a couple of months to arrive at any conclusion.The officials point out that robust hydel storage fuelled by heavy rains last year had helped the State to effectively manage the peak load even when the demand had touched a record 18,650 MW during summer months.Rainfall for June in the State was deficit to the extent of 42%. Any shortage in rainfall in the southwest monsoon causes concern among policy makers and experts in Karnataka as the southwest monsoon is the mainstay of the State’s weather system since it accounts for 73-75% of the calendar year’s rainfall. The northeast monsoon accounts for only around 23-25% of rainfall. Published - July 04, 2026 06:01 am IST
The water required for the pumped storage facility would be drawn from the Palar near Virinjipuram, around 18 km from the project site. Permission to conduct only a preliminary survey to assess the feasibility of the proposed Alleri Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project in Vellore was sought by Adani Hydro Energy Fourteen Limited, said T.K. Ashok Kumar, District Forest Officer (DFO), Vellore Division.In an interaction with The Hindu, the DFO said that initially, the representatives of the private firm had orally sought the nod of the Forest Department to conduct a preliminary survey to assess the feasibility of the multi-crore project.However, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) had made it clear that the permission could be obtained only from the Centre by applying for it on the Parivesh portal. “They (representatives of the private firm) were directed to apply for it on the Parivesh portal to get environmental clearance from the Centre to conduct only the survey. The nod has not been sought for the project itself,” Mr. Ashok Kumar clarified.The Forest Department’s statement comes in the wake of objections from environmentalists to the proposed 1,800 MW pumped storage hydroelectric project by the Adani Group at the foothills of Jawadhu Hills in the district.The proposed project would come up in the Arasampattu Reserve Forest (RF) that falls under the Odugathur forest range in the district. Of the estimated 833 acres of land required, 564 acres would be forest land. The project involves the construction of an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir linked through a pumped storage system designed to generate 1,800 MW of electricity.According to Poovulagin Nanbargal, an environmental organisation that opposes the project, the forests surrounding the project site support a rich variety of flora and fauna. The region is also home to the Malabar Grey Hornbill, Indian Pangolin, Slender Loris, Indian Giant Squirrel, leopard, dhole, sloth bear, gaur, sambar deer, barking deer, and wild boar.Environmentalists also fear that the proposed project could affect availability of groundwater for domestic consumption and irrigation. The water required for the pumped storage facility would be drawn from the Palar near Virinjipuram, around 18 km from the project site.Excessive pumping of water from the river for the project could deprive the local residents of water, especially during summer. Published - June 30, 2026 07:53 pm IST
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