Police Beef-up Security in Mandya amid Farmers Protest for Cauvery Water

Mandya: Police department has made elaborate security arrangements in Mandya district as farmers are very likely to protest against water being released from Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir to Tamil Nadu amid severe water shortage and weak monsoon rainfall in the Cauvery basin of Karnataka state.

There were number protests held last week by the farmers urging Karnataka government to stop releasing water from KRS immediately. However, the state government defended its stand and continued to release water in the wake of previous Supreme Court’s order to release water from the reservoir to Tamil Nadu.  

Supreme Court is also expected to hear Tamil Nadu government’s plea on July 11 seeking its water quota from KRS reservoir. The move of Tamil Nadu state government to file a petition on the issue is very likely to provoke the farmers further in Mandya and Mysuru districts.

Water level in KRS reservoir was seen at 77.65 feet against its final level of 124.80 feet as on July 08, 2017. Live water storage was reportedly seen at 5.39 TMC against its total capacity of 45.05 TMC as on Saturday. Meanwhile inflow of water was reportedly seen at 4497 cusec against an outflow of 2080 cusec.