The Irrigation Department on Tuesday evening increased the quantity of water being released from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) to Tamil Nadu triggering protests by farmers across the district.
The outflow from the reservoir near Srirangapatna in the district, the lifeline of several districts in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, was at the rate of 1,453 cubic feet per second (cusecs) at 6.30 a.m. on Tuesday, and it was increased to 8,052 cusecs at 6.30 p.m., according to a top official at Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (CNNL), who wished to remain anonymous.
The inflow
The inflow on Tuesday evening was at the rate of 20,106 cusecs. Water-level in the reservoir stood at 88 ft. while the full-reservoir level is 124.8 ft.
Water-level is expected to increase in the coming days as the catchment area of the Cauvery is getting copious rainfall, a CNNL official added.
The reservoir’s live storage stood at 5.659 tmcft.
Protests stagedMeanwhile, the decision of CNNL triggered protests across the district on Tuesday night.
Members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) staged flash protests in Srirangapatna, Mandya, Malavalli and other places.
KRRS leaders Konasale Narasaraju and Shambhunahalli Suresh were among others who blocked traffic in front of M. Visvesvaraya statue on Bangalore-Mysore Highway and raised slogans against the CNNL officials.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Suresh said: “Though the standing crops in the district are withering due to lack of water, CNNL is discharging a huge quantity of water to Tamil Nadu. We will intensify the protests from Wednesday.”
