Date:09/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/09/stories/2008080959600600.htm

Karnataka

Government has betrayed farmers, says Congress

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Congress on Friday criticised the Government for releasing water from Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini reservoirs to Tamil Nadu. It alleged that the BJP Government had “betrayed” the farmers by releasing water when the whole State was facing severe drought due to deficient rainfall.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V.S. Ugrappa said the Government has failed to protest the interests of farmers of Mysore and Mandya districts.

Quoting data provided by the Water Resources Department, Mr. Ugrappa said 16.36 tmcft of water had been released to Tamil Nadu as on August 6. In view of the erratic monsoon, the Government had appealed to farmers of Mysore region to desist from going in for paddy and sugarcane crops, which required a lot of water. The Congress leader, who visited Mysore on Thursday, said the inflow in KRS was 15,819 cusecs and outflow 12,300 cusecs on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the inflow was 10,897 cusecs and outflow was 2,750 cusecs.

Inflow

The inflow in Kabini reservoir was 10,223 cusecs while the outflow was 13,130 cusecs on Thursday.

The State Government should put forward a “distress formula” before the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and cut down the release of water from the State reservoirs to Tamil Nadu, he added.