Farmers rally for water justice, urge Tamil Nadu to ban Cauvery water release

Mandya. A resounding chorus of protest echoed near Maddur, as aggrieved farmers gathered to express their vehement disapproval of the state government’s decision to divert Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu amid Karnataka’s parched landscape. The contentious issue has sparked widespread protests, including at the Krishna Raj Sagar (KRS) dam in Mandya, where protesters took out a rally against the alleged apathy of the authorities. The protest was further strengthened by the presence of Melukote MLA Darshan Puttannaiah, who stood shoulder to shoulder with the agitating farmers and amplified their collective demand for immediate intervention. “The frustration echoes in our voices. Karnataka has already released 80,000 cusecs of water from the Cauvery to Tamil Nadu to ensure their due share. However, it has been decided to release an additional 11,000 cusecs of water per day as directed by the Supreme Court This appalling lack of rainfall is inherently unjust,” declared one of the vocal protesters.

United under a common banner of urgency, the rallying farmers demanded an immediate stop to the diversion of water to Tamil Nadu, stressing Karnataka’s critical need to meet its water requirements. Former chief minister and JDS leader, HD Kumaraswamy, slammed the Congress-led government, condemning Tamil Nadu for continuing to release water from its reservoirs in the state, which is grappling with insufficient water levels for both irrigation and consumption. Kumaraswamy’s allegations went further, alleging that the move was a calculated political ploy aimed at winning the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with the current Congress administration risking the welfare of the farming community for electoral gains. was ready to cast. Reportedly, the state government’s actions have their genesis in the Supreme Court judgment on the long-standing Cauvery water dispute. Currently, Karnataka is releasing a daily quota of 12,718 cusecs to Tamil Nadu in compliance with the apex court order. Yet, as farmers unite, these protests present an image of desperation, an impassioned plea for equitable resource distribution amid the looming vagaries of nature’s unpredictability.