Siddaramaiah to offer ‘bagina’ at Kabini

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to offer ‘bagina’ to the Kabini reservoir, which has reached its brim with the revival of monsoon.

According to Irrigation Department officials, Chamarajnagar MP R. Dhruvanarayan visited the reservoir on Tuesday and asked officials to make arrangements for the CM’s visit, tentatively scheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the water level in the reservoir reached 2,283 feet on Tuesday, as against the full reservoir level (FRL) of 2,284 feet (mean sea level). The inflow was 19,000 cusecs following rain in Wayanad region of Kerala.

Irrigation Department authorities, who have already sounded a flood warning to people residing in villages downstream, began releasing 16,000 cusecs of water early on Tuesday by opening four crest gates.

The reservoir has reached its brim for the first time in three years. The last time ‘bagina’ was offered to Kabini was in 2014, also by Mr. Siddaramaiah.