Farmers left fuming after govt stops KRS water into canals

The government’s decision to stop water from being released into canals from Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir has upset the farming community in the district.

Following the direction from the government, the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam authorities had stopped the release of water into canals from 6 am on Wednesday.

Water was being let into canals from midnight of August 9 after the government acceded to the demands put forth by farmers. The chief minister had ordered release of water after a meeting with people’s representatives of the Cauvery basin districts.

Rain in Kodagu

With Kodagu district experiencing good rain and increased inflow into KRS dam, the sudden decision of the government to stop water to canals has come as a shock to farmers in the region.

Speaking to DH, Raitha Sangha district unit president Shambunahalli Suresh explained that 9,000 cusecs of water is being released to Tamil Nadu everyday while it is only 5,000 cusecs to canals.

"Ponds and lakes have not yet filled. The government had strictly directed the farmers not to cultivate paddy as it requires more water. The government should immediately convene a meeting with the Irrigation Consultative Committee and take a decision to release water for the benefit of farmers. It should also announce what crops should be grown and accordingly distribute seeds," he said.

Farmer leader K S Sudhir Kumar said that ponds and lakes would have filled if water was allowed to flow into canals for another week. The main purpose of releasing water in the past 20 days has not been achieved. "The government, which had stopped water into canals in the district, continues to release water to Tamil Nadu. Farmers should be allowed to grow one crop," he stressed.