Hydel storage in Karnataka is second lowest in last 10 years

Linganamakki dam represents only 10.92% of the stock compared to 45.4% in the same period last year. | Photo credit: File photo

A deficit monsoon has already cast its shadow over Karnataka’s power sector, with the state’s current hydel storage at its second lowest in 10 years.

Cumulative storage in all the state’s three major reservoirs – Linganamakki, Supa and Mani – was just 14.9% of full capacity on Friday (July 3, 2008), compared to 44.05% of storage during the same period last year.

The only other instance in the last 10 years when hydel storage was below this level was in 2023 when the state was hit by a severe drought. According to statistics available to the Power Department, at that time the total Hydel storage was just 12.55%.

Only 14.88%

Although even in 2022 the hydel stock was only 14.88% in the same period, heavy rains in the catchments pushed the stock to 15.65% by the second day and 44.8% by mid-July.

Cumulative storage in the three reservoirs could now help generate only 1,295 million units of power as against 3,828 million units for the same period last year.

The distribution of reservoir stocks reflects a bleak picture, with Linganamakki dam accounting for only 10.92% of stocks compared to 45.4% for the same period last year. The reservoir has reported inflows of 11,485 cusecs against 45,070 cusecs for the same period last year.

Also, Supa dam has only 20.18% storage against previous year’s level of 41.25% and inflows of 1,825 cusecs against last year’s 36,872 cusecs. Mani dam also presents a similar scenario as it represents poor storage of only 16.4% as against 46.83% in the previous year. Worse, there are no tributaries to this reservoir yet.

For top management

Energy experts and officials fear that the state’s power sector may face cascading problems if the storage scenario does not improve.

“Karnataka is heavily dependent on hydel power for efficient management of its peak load. Hydel power is also very economical compared to other forms of power. Hence, any further failure of monsoon may affect the peak hour power management and also force the state to buy additional power from expensive sources to overcome the shortage in later stages,” the official noted, adding that the rider must wait at least a couple of months.

Officials point out that robust hydel storage, fueled by heavy rains last year, helped the state manage peak loads efficiently, even as demand hit a record 18,650 MW during the summer months.

Precipitation for June was in deficit in the state in the range of 42%. Any lack of rainfall in the southwest monsoon raises concerns among policy makers and experts in Karnataka as the southwest monsoon is the mainstay of the state’s meteorological system, accounting for 73-75% of the rainfall in a calendar year. The northeast monsoon accounts for only about 23–25% of the rainfall.

Published – 04 Jul 2026 06:01 IST