Mysuru: The Apex Court’s directive to keep releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till July 11 has come as a rude shock for farmers and residents of Cauvery basin in view of the water level in the reservoirs are much below live storage.
The ruling comes at a time when the state is reeling under drought conditions and is finding it difficult to meet the drinking water needs of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and other towns. The drought has not just impacted the farmers and residents with the animals too facing the brunt of water scarcity. As many as seven elephant deaths were reported within the last few months as a result of dried waterholes. The drought served as fuel to forest fire in Bandipur, Nagarhole and Biligi Riranganathaswamy wildlife sanctuary.
The farmers too are opposed to this directive of the court as irrigation officials have been denying water to standing crops and giving the same to Tamil Nadu as per the apex court interim order. They are worried as the region has not received summer showers.
The reservoirs that have fallen to dead storage are left with 10.5 tmc ft of water; in KRS, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathi reservoirs. Mandya villages are pressing for release of water for Ugadi festival. Farmers are strongly opposing taking water from dead storage level.
They fear that any attempt to release water from reservoirs at this juncture would put Bengalureans, Mysoreans and people of Cauvery basin in a lot of difficulty.
They fear that the release of water to comply with the Supreme Court direction would trigger a wave of protests in the region.
