Bengaluru: Farmers in Tumkur district, especially in Gubbi taluk, are in distress. With the majority of water tanks being dried up, farmers are set to incur huge losses for the second consecutive year.
According to the irrigation department officials, there are 176 water tanks in Tumkur district but only 21 of them can supply water to semi-dry crops such as ragi, jowar and avare. The remaining water tanks have no water. “This water tank was filled with rain water in 1984 and every year this water tank is being filled with Hemavathy water. Now no water has reached this tank for the last two years,” said Srinivas, a farmer from M H Pattana village in Gubbi taluk.
Expressing disappointment over the lack of water for irrigation purposes, Gangadhar of Chelur said he had incurred a loss of Rs 50,000 due to drought. “I expected to recover last year’s loss this year but I have to incur losses again this year due to crop failure,” said Gangadhar.
Nanjundaiah B of Hadakuppe is in the dilemma again this year. He doesn’t know how to make both ends meet. It will be the forth consecutive year for him to suffer losses due to crop failure. “I own two acres of land. I have taken a crop loan from a co-operative society. I am waiting for the state government to announce some relief, ” said Nanjundaiah.
Farmers of Vadalur village want water for irrigation and drinking purposes. “We have no drinking water. Now we have to depend on borewells dug at agriculture fields for drinking water. It would be a great help if the government releases water from Hemavathy reservoir,” said Kumar, a farmer.
