Govt bows to farmers’ protest, to release water from 4 Cauvery basin dams

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday announced the release of Cauvery water into canals to fill up tanks and ponds in Cauvery basin.

Presiding over a high-level meeting here, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the release of Cauvery water will help to improve groundwater table and also mitigate drinking water problems in Cauvery basin area.

“Cauvery water will be released from tomorrow (August 10) from four reservoirs. Ponds and tanks in Cauvery basin will be filled with Cauvery water. I appeal farmers not to cultivate paddy in Cauvery basin area,’’ the chief minister said.

He said farmers in KR Sagar, Kabini, Hemavathi, and Harangi areas have been staging protests demanding the government to release Cauvery water into the canals.

There is a considerable depletion of ground water in Cauvery basin area and farmers are complaining that they are not getting enough water even digging borewells up to 1,000 ft depth. “Denying water to farmers is not the government’s intention. Our priority is to protect farmers. So, we have taken the decision to release Cauvery water into the canals,’’ the chief minister said.

He said the state has been reeling under severe drought condition, the worst drought in 46 years. He said there was drought during the last year but the rainfall during this monsoon is much below than the previous year.

“There was 53.52 TMC of water in four reservoirs during the last year as against 45 TMC of water this year. The inflow of water is much below than last year. There is no rain in Cauvery basin area. The failure of monsoon resulted in shortage of water in Cauvery basin area,’’ he said.

He said the farmers will commence cultivation of paddy as soon as Cauvery water is released. “To avoid this, there was a delay in meeting farmers’ demand for the release of Cauvery water. If farmers cultivate paddy and sugarcane, they will incur a loss. Last year, many farmers have incurred loss due to shortage of water for paddy and sugarcane crops. Paddy is being cultivated in 2.68 lakh hectares in Cauvery basin area,’’ he said.

The chief minister said the Cauvery water is being released to ensure supply of drinking water for villagers and cattle. “The high-level meeting has decided to release water from Kabini, Harangi, KRS, and Hemavathi reservoirs. I appeal farmers to go for rainfed-crops instead of paddy and sugarcane crops. The department of agriculture will distribute pamphlets at all villages in Cauvery basin area,’’ he said.

The chief minister has made it clear that he was advising farmers to cultivate any crop but not paddy and sugarcane due to water scarcity. “Farmers have to cooperate with the government. We are with the farmers. We will give water if there is sufficient rain in the near future,’’ he said.

Answering a query, the chief minister said the quantum of Cauvery water to be released to Tamil Nadu has been reduced. “The government will take up cloud seeding next week,’’ he said.

Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil, Minister for Agriculture Krishna Byregowda, Minister for Housing and Mandya in-charge M Krishnappa, MP from Mandya Puttaraju, former minister Ambareesh, legislators Narendra Swamy, Cheluvarayaswamy, Marithibbe Gowda, Srikante Gowda, Puttannaiah, Ramesh Bandisidde Gowda, and Narayanaswamy were present on the occasion.

Water level in state’s reservoirs as on 8/8/2017