Farmers stage protest over SC directive

Mandya: Amidst reports of decrease in the water level of the Cauvery basin reservoirs, the directive of the Supreme Court to Karnataka to release at least 2 tmcft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu is a huge blow to the people. Farmers and politicians are crushed alike by this directive, which comes during the sweltering heat of the summer and the anxious anticipation of the elections.

For quite a few weeks, the farmers of the region have been urging the irrigation authorities to release water from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam for irrigating their crops. The directive from the Supreme Court leaves no scope for that. The irrigation authorities are also sceptical of following the SC directive because releasing 2 tmcft of water from the KRS reservoir is impossible due to lack of storage water.

The water level recorded on Thursday at the KRS reservoir was 72.46 ft against the maximum level of 124.8 ft. The storage in the reservoir was 7.83 tmcft which is below the dead storage level. Releasing water to Tamil Nadu in this situation would make matters worse for the farmers of Karnataka.

Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha(KRRS) declared that it would stage a protest if water is released to Tamil Nadu. Politician G Madegowda, who is at the forefront of the Cauvery agitation warned the state government against the SC directive.

Kurubur Shanthakumar, President of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association, was addressing a farmers’ awareness campaign in Mysuru, where he threatened the State Government that if the releases Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, then farmers will oppose the assembly polls and protest at the KRS dam to prevent the State from releasing the water. He demanded that the Supreme Court review its order.

Political parties and its candidates seem anxious about the Supreme Court directive since taking a stand on the Cauvery issue will be tricky during the assembly elections.