JOIN USDecision to release water into canals soon: Minister
District in-charge Minister D K Shivakumar, on Monday, said that a decision on releasing water into canals from the KRS dam will be taken at a high-level meeting with the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the authorities concerned in Bengaluru on August 16.
Addressing the media persons, after the Cauvery Irrigation Consultative Committee meeting at KRS dam site in Srirangapatna taluk, he said, “It was decided to release water into canals hoping a good spell of rains. But, with the state facing deficit rains this year also, the situation has turned worse.”
“The Cauvery command area is facing the worst drought in the last 40 years. A minimum of 40 tmcft of water is required for agricultural activities. About 10 tmcft of water is reserved for drinking water purpose. Moreover, at least, .5 tmcft of water is required every day if water is released into canals for agriculture. With the Meteorological department predicting no/less rains this season, the situation has turned grim,” he said.
“A meeting will be held with the chief minister and the authorities concerned and a final decision would be taken on Tuesday,” he added. However, he declined to reply to a question why water is being released to Tamil Nadu despite the state facing the worst situation.
PWD Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa, MP C S Puttaraju and MLA N Cheluvarayaswamy attended the meeting. Meanwhile, BJP leaders and Raitha Sangha activists staged a protest, demanding the government not to stop water being released into canals.