Due to the weak monsoon, farmers who were denied water for their second crop during summer, have not started preparations for paddy cultivation both in 1.15 lakh acres of cultivation area in Kabini and 1.10 lakh hectares in Cauvery achkat.
The standing sugarcane crops in the region have no water and farmers have already lost crops like pulses, ragi and oilseeds that were sown on paddy fields.
Tamil Nadu had received more than 40 TMC of water by this time during the previous year. But Karnataka would not be in a position to release water this year as the first three months of monsoon season have already lapsed and the Hemavathi and Harangi reservior in the Cauvery basin are not full.
The situation in Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir is alarming as the water level is 78 ft against maximum of 124 ft. It was 117.60 ft during the corresponding period last year with an inflow of 11,803 cusecs because of good rains.
Bhagamandala, in Kodagu that had received 3,627 mm rains between January 2011 and August 2011, has received only 1,976 mm rains from January this year to August 1. The region received 65 inches less rain this year compared to the previous year. Cauvery Niravari Nigam that has stopped discharge of water from reservoirs and will meet on Monday to decide on releasing water for drinking and irrigation purposes as pressure is mounting from the farmers.
Karnataka Rajya Ritha Sangha vice president Nanjunde Gowda said they can’t demand water for crops as the present storage level in KRS is not enough to meet drinking water needs. He said riparian states should understand the plight of the farming community instead of precipitating the Cauvery issue that would mar the peace in the region.
Karnataka Sugarcane Growers Association president Kurbur Shanthakumar said the irrigation department should immediately release water from Kabini.
He said farmers have lost sugarcane crops due to erratic power supply to irrigation pumpsets and due to denial of water during the summer to quench Bangalore’s thirst.
“People in urban pockets and in Tamil Nadu should know that the state can’t store or utilise a big share even if it gets good rains,” he added.
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