Deve Gowda visits dams in Cauvery basin to assess water levels

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Sunday visited Krishnarajasagar (KRS), Kabini and Hemavathy dams on Sunday to assess the water levels, in view of the release of water to Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to reporters after visiting KRS in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district, Gowda urged the state government to take measures for ensuring supply of sufficient drinking water to Mandya, Mysuru and Bengaluru. He also demanded the government to compensate the farmers for crop loss.  “It is surprising that the court has passed the order when the state is facing acute shortage of drinking water. The main petition is coming up for hearing before the court on October 18 and if we fail to convince the court, the situation will become worse for Karnataka,” Gowda said.

He said that he had explained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the water-sharing formula and the prevailing drought in Karnataka. “I will meet the prime minister again with more facts to convince him. The state will not get justice by protesting against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. We should come up with a strategy to fight the issue.”

 Gowda said that he would conduct an aerial survey of Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. The former prime minister, who visited Kabini dam in HD Kote taluk of Mysuru district said that wild animals in Bandipur and other forests in the vicinity depend on Kabini dam for drinking water and they would die if they don’t get water. Gowda also took stock of the water level in Hemavathy reservoir.

Protests continue Protests against release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu continued in Mandya on Sunday also, reports DHNS from Mandya. However, protesters blocked roads only for a short duration. While traffic resumed on Mysuru-Bengaluru highway, the KSRTC had diverted most of its buses on Malavalli-Kanakapura road, reports DHNS from Mandya.