Members of Rajya Raitha Sangatanegala Okkoota and Rajya Kabbu Belegarara Sangha have called for an agitation at all villages in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts on Thursday, demanding that the release of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu be stopped.
The members took the decision to protest after the police arrested the agitators, who had launched an overnight protest in front of District in-charge Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa’s office at Cauvery Area Development Authority (CADA) building.
Police had arrested the agitators when they were heading towards K R Circle, in the city, where protests are prohibited, to stage a demonstration.
The police team, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Dr H T Shekar, took farmer leaders including Kuruburu Shanthakumar, Athahalli Devaraju, Hallikerehundi Bhagyaraj, Kiragasuru Shankar, Hadya Ravi, Magudilu Ravikumar, Varakodu Krishnegowda, B P Parashivamurthy and among others, to custody. The farmers raised slogans against the state government, Minister Mahadevappa and the police.
Sangha president Kuruburu Shanthakumar said, the farmers will stage a protest at all villages by blocking the roads between 11 am and 12 noon.
“The state government is adopting anti-farmer policies. It is releasing water to Tamil Nadu despite the state facing severe shortage of water. More than 40 tmcft of water has been released to TN from KRS dam and Kabini reservoir during the past one month,” he alleged.
Meet on Sept 2
The farmers will intensify the protest if the Supreme Court’s judgement is against the state’s interest on September 2. Tamil Nadu government’s plea, seeking release of 50 tmcft of water will come for hearing before the SC on Friday. A farmers’ meeting has been convened on September 2 to decide on the further course of agitation. We will intensify the protest if the judgement is against the State’s interest, Shanthakumar said.
Water stopped
CADA has stopped the release of water in the right and left bank canal of Kabini reservoir on Tuesday. The Cauvery Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC) directed the authorities to stop the water release following the agitation launched by farmers’ demand. River water was released between August 25 and 30. No water will be released till further decision from the ICC, said an official.
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