With no rain in sight, authorities plan Ganga puja, Varuna homa at KRS tomorrow

MANDYA: With the monsoon still remaining elusive in the Cauvery catchment area, the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd (CNNL) is organising a Varuna homa and Ganga puja near the Cauvery statue at the KRS dam on Tuesday.

A team of 12 priests, led by well known priest Bhanuprakash Sharma will conduct the homa rituals to invoke the rain gods and to ensure that the dam fills up.

Two years ago, when the monsoon had failed, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had offered special prayers at a ceremony conducted by Bhanuprakash Sharma. The dam was filled to the brim in October and the then CM offered bagina in November.

The water level at KRS dam has dropped sharply.

The KRS dam is now witnessing the lowest water level in five years and hence, the CNNL is organising the rituals much earlier as drinking water supply to Bengaluru, Mysuru and other cities could be affected.

Farmers in the Cauvery basin are also worried as the water level in KRS is only 83 feet against a maximum of 124.80 feet. The total water stored in the dam now is 12.152 tmcft. Last week, the water level had dipped to 79 feet and water was released from the Hemavathi dam to raise the water level.