Due to Drought & Intense heat, Lakshmana Tirtha River Dried Up

The Lakshmana Tirtha River, located in the Kodagu District, Karnataka, is well-known for its picturesque hills, dense forests, and crystal-clear rivers. However, due to ongoing severe drought conditions and intense heat, the river is facing an acute water crisis. The flow of the Cauvery river, another important water source in the district, has dwindled and as a result the Lakshmana Tirtha river has completely dried up. 

Lakshmana Tirtha river

• The Lakshmana Tirtha river originates from dense forests in Kutta of Ponnampet taluk and stretches about 180 km before merging into the Cauvery river through Piyapatna and Hunsur in Mysore. 
• Eventually, the river flows into the KRS reservoir. This river has historically been the lifeblood for the communities in South Kodagu, consistently flowing throughout the year. However, this year, by early April, the river has run dry, leaving no trace of water.

Reason of drying up

• Due to a shortage of rainfall, Lakshmana Tirtha has dried up. This can be attributed to the extreme weather conditions caused by last year's 40% deficit rainfall in Kodagu. 
• The depletion of groundwater levels all over the district, the lack of adequate rainfall has resulted in the drying up of smaller streams in the hills as early as February. 
• This, in turn, has led to a reduction in inflow into the rivers, resulting in the complete drying up of both the Lakshmana Tirtha and Cauvery rivers.

Impacts 

• Farmers in South Kodagu are struggling to irrigate their crops due to a dire situation. They rely on the river for their coffee plantations, but the water scarcity has made it difficult. 
• The residents and their livestock are also facing a shortage of drinking water. As we enter the second week of April, more rivers in the district are drying up, further worsening the water crisis. 
• The situation has worsened since January due to the absence of regular rainfall, making it crucial for rains to replenish these vital water sources. But with no immediate signs of rainfall, the communities in the Kodagu-Mysore region remain deeply concerned about their future water supply.

Cauvery river

Origin: Talakaveri in Coorg District of Karnataka in Brahmagiri Range of hills in the Western ghats 

Basin: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry

Tributaries: from left are the Harangi, the Hemavati, the Shimsha and the Arkavati whereas the Lakshmana Tirtha, the Kabbani, the Suvarnavati, the Bhavani, the Noyil and the Amaravati joins from right. 

Drain: Into the Bay of Bengal