Police Beef Up Security in Mandya, Mysuru Districts Amid Farmers’ Protests for Water

Mandya/Mysuru: Police department has taken elaborate security arrangements to prevent any unpleasant incident in the wake of protests by the farmers in Mandya and Mysuru districts against water being released from Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir to Tamil Nadu. The farmers moved to streets on Friday after the state government raised the outflow of water from KRS amid weak rainfall in the region and insufficient water storage in the reservoir.

The farmers blocked roads, shouted slogans and organized processions as part of their protests in Mysuru and Mandya districts for the second day on July 1 as the government continued to released water from KRS even if farmers strongly opposed the move. Security is also beefed up in KRS dam area and its surroundings.

Mandya, Chamarajnagar, Malavalli, Mysuru and other areas witnessed violent protests before government offices, in public places and others. Various farmers’ groups burnt replica of the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Water resources Minister MB Patil in Mysuru.

Water storage in KRS has reached 3.41 TMC against its total capacity of 45.05 TMC as on July 1, 2017. Present water storage level is less compared to last year’s water storage of 5.66 TMC. The dam has an inflow of 7456 cusec while outflow of water has reached 2712 cusec as on July 01.