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Confusion over water release in Hemavathi Basin

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN NOV. 14. Confusion prevails over release of water to save crops in the Hemavathi Basin. According to officials, though water is being released in canals only for drinking, farmers are utilising it for agriculture.

The Janata Dal (Secular) and the Janata Dal (United) have urged the district administration to release water to help thousands of farmers in Karle, Mukunduru, Hanumanahalli, Banavase, Tyagaturu, Sattigarahalli, Uduvare, Angarahalli, Gorur, Aniganahalli, Narasinakuppe, Yabbale, Atni, Maradi, and Hosurukopplu.

Official sources in the Hemavathi Reservoir Project said 2,400 cusecs of water was released in the Hemavathi Left Bank Canal for drinking, and 300 cusecs in the Right Bank High Level Canal on Thursday.

They said water had been released at irregular intervals for drinking and not for agriculture, and clarified that water was not released in the Hemavathi Right Bank Canal. Farmers in the Hemavathi Basin were not satisfied, and demanded regular supply of water for their crops.

Recently, thousands of farmers laid siege to the office of the Hemavathi Reservoir and demanded release of water. To mollify the farmers, water was released following a directive from the Minister in charge of Hassan District, H.C. Srikantaiah, to the Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner had made it clear that water would be released till the next meeting of the Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC).

But so far, for the reasons best known to Mr. Srikantaiah and the Chairman of the Command Area Development Authority, the ICC meeting has not been convened.

The district authorities have clarified that it is not possible to release water for crops in 1.5 lakh acres of land, and the irrigation authorities have said that the storage in the Hemavathi reservoir is not sufficient for agriculture.

The Deputy Commissioner has said that water release may cause drinking water shortage in the districts which are dependent on water from the Hemavathi, and at least seven tmcft. of water is needed to meet the requirement in summer. Farmers have not heeded the advice not to take up agriculture. The Janata Dal (Secular) has demanded that the district administration convene a meeting of the ICC at the earliest. The former minister and Janata Dal (S) leader, H.D. Revanna, has warned that an agitation will be launched if the demand is not conceded.

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