Mandya: Following demand from farmers, Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Ltd.(CNNL) authorities has released water to KRS canals starting from yesterday (Feb.13).

CNNL Superintendent Engineer K.G. Vijaykumar said that following a Cauvery Tribunal order, water has been released in all canals of KRS reservoir to enable the farmers to irrigate sugarcane fields along the path of the canal.

The farmers have been asked to use water only for cultivation of sugarcane and other standing crops. The water will be released as per the ‘Kattu’ system, according to which water will be released continuously for 15 days and stopped the next 15 days in a month, till the end of May. The water will be released in four periods of 15 days each — Feb.13 to 28; Mar.14 to 29; April 13 to 28 and May 13 to 28.

Water has been released in Visweswaraya, Shimsha, Old Maddur,  Keragodu, New Maddur, Lokasara, Turuganur, Old Hebbakawadi and all other high and low level canals of the Reservoir, Vijaykumar said and added that the farmers must use the water only for standing crops and not for fresh cultivation of crops such as paddy.