Mysore/Mysuru: With the district staring at a drinking water crisis due to poor rainfall, Deputy Commissioner Dr. K.V. Rajendra has ordered ban on unauthorised drawing of river water for agricultural and other commercial purposes.

The move is aimed at preventing drinking water shortage with the district under the grip of drought.

The DC’s order comes in the wake of reports of illegal drawing of Cauvery water using pumpsets on the banks of the river in Periyapatna taluk. This had affected the drinking water supply in the town.

Periyapatna Taluk Task Force that met on Mar.14 had written to the DC urging him to invoke the powers given under the Karnataka Irrigation Act,1965 restricting the use of river water for other purposes in certain situations. The order quoted that Section 46 of Karnataka Irrigation Act, 1965, states that no person other than the Irrigation Officer shall interfere with or divert the course of a natural stream or construct any earthen or masonry bund or weir on any channel or stream, flowing above or below any field channel.

In the order, the DC, who is also the Chairman of Mysuru Disaster Management Authority, said the Chief Minister, during a video conference on Mar.5, had ordered for restricting illegal drawing of river water for agriculture and other purposes to overcome drinking water crisis.

Farmers in Kodagu upset over restrictions

Meanwhile, a similar order has been issued by the District Administration in Kodagu also a few days back. Farmers in Cauvery basin are upset over restrictions imposed on use of water which is needed to protect their crops, especially coffee.

This move to restrict irrigation to ensure availability of drinking water has triggered a water war. “Farmers in Kodagu use stream water for irrigation only for two months in a year, how can the DC ban it?” asked a farmer leader during a protest in front of the DC’s Office recently. “Such a step will kill our crops while resorts are allowed to waste water throughout the year,” he alleged.