Irrigation – Mandya Farmers Escalate Protest Over Delay in KRS Water Release
Irrigation –Farmers in Mandya intensified their agitation on Monday, demanding the immediate release of irrigation water from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir as concerns grew over damage to standing crops. Protesters said prolonged delays have left sugarcane fields and other crops under severe stress, putting the livelihoods of thousands of cultivators at risk.
Farmers Take Protest to Streets
Members of several farmer organisations gathered at Sanjay Circle in Mandya before marching towards the old Mysuru-Bengaluru highway, where they staged a road blockade to press their demands. The protesters also attempted to march to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, urging the State Government to release irrigation water without further delay.
To draw attention to their concerns, many farmers removed their shirts during the demonstration, describing the gesture as a symbol of the hardships being faced by the agricultural community. They argued that despite the Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir maintaining a water level of nearly 90 feet, irrigation supplies had not been restored. According to the protesters, any additional delay could lead to irreversible crop losses, particularly in sugarcane-growing areas.
Opposition to Drinking Water Expansion Project
Farmer representatives also voiced strong objections to the proposed Phase-VI drinking water project. They maintained that while drinking water remains essential, expanding new supply schemes should not come at the cost of withholding irrigation water needed to protect existing crops.
Leaders of the Farmer Protection Committee stated that the government should review the project until sufficient water is made available for agriculture. They warned that if authorities continue to overlook their demands, protests across the district would become more widespread and sustained in the coming days.
Farmers Seek Immediate Government Action
Protesters accused the administration of failing to respond despite repeated appeals from farming communities. They said standing crops across parts of the Cauvery command area continue to deteriorate because of inadequate irrigation, increasing the financial burden on cultivators who have already invested heavily in this season’s crop.
The demonstrators urged the government to prioritise irrigation releases to safeguard agricultural production and prevent large-scale losses for families that rely on farming as their primary source of income.
Political Leaders Call for Timely Decision
Pandavapura MLA Darshan Puttannaiah, who also serves as the working president of the Sarvodaya Karnataka Party, appealed to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to personally intervene in the matter. He said water from the KRS reservoir should be released in a balanced manner to meet both irrigation and drinking water requirements.
Meanwhile, Srirangapatna MLA Ravi Ganiga said the state leadership had indicated that a decision on releasing Cauvery water was likely after the scheduled Cauvery-related hearing on July 15. His remarks suggested that the government’s next course of action could depend on the outcome of those proceedings.
KRRS Announces Indefinite Dharna
Adding momentum to the ongoing agitation, the Mandya district unit of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) announced an indefinite day-and-night dharna beginning at 11 a.m. on July 14 outside the office of the Executive Engineer at the KRS dam.
KRRS leaders said the protest would continue without interruption until the government issues orders for the release of irrigation water. Farmer organisations maintained that they would persist with peaceful demonstrations until their concerns receive a concrete response from the authorities, stressing that timely water release remains critical to protecting crops and ensuring the stability of the region’s agricultural economy.