With a storage level of just 12.68 tmcft at the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam, the lowest in four decades, the Karnataka government has decided to release water only for standing semi-arid crops such as maize, pulses and ragi in the reservoir basin for 13 days till August 30. The release of water from August 31 to September 10 would be stopped.
Based on the storage level, the decision on further release of water will be taken on September 10. The storage capacity of KRS is 49.45 tmcft.
Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar held an Irrigation Consultative Meeting on Monday and a review meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday. He told media persons on Wednesday that farmers in the catchment areas had prepared only 50 per cent of their fields for sowing. Farmers of tail-end canals had not even started preparations.
Officials had been instructed to form a district-level squad, headed by a Deputy Commissioner and comprising officials of the Water Resources, Agriculture, Revenue, Energy and police departments, for ensuring judicious use of water.
‘Difficult situation’“In this difficult situation, the government has appealed to farmers not to take up sugarcane and paddy crops this season,” the Minister said. Water would be released only to the Malavalli and Maddur taluks of the Mandya district for drinking water needs, he said. The Irrigation Consultative Committee of the Hemavathi reservoir had decided not to release water for crops. Asked about the release of water to Tamil Nadu, Mr. Shivakumar said a “small quantity” of water was being released but he did not specify the quantity.
During the Irrigation Consultative Meeting, the Minister said farmers could take up paddy and sugarcane crops “at their own risk.” He advised farmers to be “careful about their lives and not blame the government for their financial distress following crop failure.” Many farmers committed suicide in Mandya due to the failure of crops last year.
