Srirangapatna: Seeking immediate release of water from KRS Dam to canals for saving standing crops, farmers under the banner of KRRS continued their indefinite stir in front of the Office of the CNNL Executive Engineer at KRS in Srirangapatna taluk on Tuesday.

Addressing the protestors, farmer leader Sunitha Puttannaiah said that sugarcane crops grown in thousands of acres in Mandya district are wilting due to lack of monsoon rains.

She urged the authorities to immediately release water to canals and thus come to the aid of farmers who are distraught due to failure of monsoon.

KRRS Mandya District President A.L. Kempoo Gowda said that the stir has been launched under the guidance of Melukote MLA Darshan Puttannaiah.

Pointing out that water was released from KRS reservoir to canals when the Dam level reached less than 80 ft. in the past, he said the Government should follow the same principle now to release water to canals in order to save standing crops. He further said that the stir would continue until the authorities release water to canals.

DC visits protest site

Meanwhile, Mandya Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. Kumara, who visited the protest site at KRS yesterday, told the farmers that the water inflow to KRS Dam has dropped alarmingly due to lack of monsoon rains and sought their co-operation.

Maintaining that the Government had prioritised the interests of farmers, the DC said the Government has consulted irrigation and legal experts on release of water to canals.

However, a decision will be taken on release of water following the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) meeting  scheduled for  July 15, he noted.

CWRC meeting provides  relief to Karnataka

Meanwhile, the CWRC meeting today at New Delhi did not issue  specific directions to Karnataka on releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, thus bringing some relief to Karnataka.

The TN Government, citing its standing crops, had urged the Committee to direct Karnataka for releasing what it claimed its rightful share of water. However, the CWRC, taking note of the failure of monsoon rains and Karnataka Government’s presentation of statistics and explanation on low water storage levels in reservoirs of Cauvery basin, decided against issuing specific directions on release of water to TN, it is learnt.