Mysuru: Seeking water for irrigation, the farmers under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene staged protest in front of Cauvery Command Area Development Authority (CADA) here on Saturday, July 16. The farmers demanded the authority to stop releasing water to Tamil Nadu and release water to farmers especially in the catchment areas of Kabini, Cauvery and Varuna.

The protesting farmers alleged that last year, though there was drought prevailing across the state, the CADA authorities still managed to release water to farmers in the month of June itself. But, though there was good rain during monsoon this year, the authorities failed to release water to farmers; instead they are releasing adequate water to Tamil Nadu. If the authorities fail to release water immediately, the crops which are being grown will be destroyed. They will be of no use and farmers will suffer.

“Do the elected representatives including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the CADA officials have any sense? If they fail to release water in a day or two, the crops which are growing will vanish. Hence keeping this in mind, the government and officials should convene Irrigation Consulative Committee (ICC) meeting and take immediate decision to release water from Cauvery, Kabini and Varuna so that the crops grown in 1.65 lakh hectares will get the benefit. If the government fails to release water on or before July 22, we will stage indefinite strike in front of CADA office from July 23. MLA Puttanaiah who also took part in the protest over phone spoke to district in-charge minister HC Mahadevappa who assured to convey the ICC meeting on July 20 and take a decision to release water,” said the farmers.

Shivshankar, Chief Executive Engineer, CADA said, “The water which is being released to Tamil Nadu is based on direction from the State government and also based on Cauvery Water Dispute binding. According to Cauvery Water Dispute Binding, we have to release 192 tmc of water to Tamil Nadu every year including 10 tmc in June, 34 tmc in July, 50 tmc in August and 40 tmc in September. This month, instead of 34 tmc, we have released just 7.5 tmc keeping in mind the interest of the farmers. Last year in the month of June itself the dam was full, but this year even after July 15 none of the dams are full. When compare to last year, there is less rain in the catchment area”.