The Kabini reservoir built across Kabini river is full, thanks to the copious rains in the river basin. Bangalore can now breathe easy as it will get a portion of water from the reservoir starting from Monday. The water level reached the full reservoir level (FLR) of 22.81 feet with 12,000 cusecs inflow recorded on Sunday. District in-charge minister of Mysore SA Ramdass on Sunday offered ‘Bagina’ (religious tributes) to the river and prayed for her bounty year after year.
The function where Bagina was offered was a departure from the convention. Usually Cauvery is the first river to be offered Bagina at Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir in Mandya district by the chief minister, but since Jagadish Shettar was visiting drought-hit Northern Karnataka districts he asked Ramdass to offer Bagina to Kabini river first.
“The Kabini reservoir area will be transformed into a tourist centre by building a garden with water fountains on lines of the fabled Krishnaraja Sagar dam,” Ramdass told media persons who accompanied him to the Kabini reservoir built at Beechanhalli in Heggadadevana Kote taluk, 40 kilometers from Mysore.
The district committee for tourism, heritage and exhibition has been working on the plan for the tourist centre, Ramdass said, adding that the government has released Rs2 crore for the purpose.
