Mysuru: The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and the Karnataka Sugarcane Farmers Association have strongly opposed any further release of water from the reservoirs to Tamil Nadu, reported The Hindu.
Their stance is in direct opposition to the directives of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), which has called for the release of water to Tamil Nadu at a rate of 5,000 cusecs per day for an additional 15 days. The farmers argue that the State is facing a crisis due to a rainfall deficiency.
Kurubur Shanthakumar, the association’s president, announced the formation of a 10-member committee comprising leaders from various farmers’ organizations, Kannada activists, and subject experts. This committee intends to visit various areas, including KRS, Biligundlu, Talacauvery, and others, to compile a comprehensive report. They plan to submit this report to the authorities while also sharing the situation with the public. Shanthakumar emphasized that further water release would lead to severe drinking water scarcity in the coming days, especially impacting Bengaluru. He highlighted the need to raise awareness among Bengaluru residents about the gravity of the situation and announced plans to convene a meeting of various Kannada organizations.
A total of 195 out of 227 taluks in Karnataka are facing a drought-like situation, said Karnataka ‘s state Minister for Revenue Krishna Byre Gowda on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference after the cabinet sub-committee meeting held at Vidhansouda on Wednesday, Byre Gowda said that the fifth cabinet sub-committee has also recommended to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to declare drought in these taluks.
