Water from Harangi dam near Kushalnagar in Kodagu was released into the river through the four crest gates on Saturday following an increase in the inflow into the dam due to heavy rains in its catchment area.
Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan offered ‘bagina’ to the brimming dam and 1,200 cusecs was discharged into the river after opening all four gates of the dam. A flood alert was issued on Friday after the inflow went up in view of heavy downpour in the catchment area. The dam engineers are expected to increase the outflow based on the extent of inflow and therefore the people living on the banks of Cauvery have been asked to move to safer places as a precautionary measure.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ranjan said he had offered ‘bagina’ to the dam on July 16 last year. This year, ‘bagina’ was being offered much earlier since the dam is three feet short to attain its full reservoir level. However, water was being discharged much earlier for safety reasons.
