Mandya: Protests against the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) directive to release 6,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days continued in Mandya on Wednesday, with farmers and various organisations staging demonstrations at several locations.Agitated protesters gathered at Sanjay Circle and blocked the old Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway by sitting on the road, disrupting traffic for some time. In a symbolic protest against the water-release order, several demonstrators placed stones on their heads, saying the decision was akin to placing an unbearable burden on the people of the Cauvery basin.The protesters condemned the CWMA directive as “unscientific” and alleged that the authority had failed to consider the prevailing water situation in Karnataka’s Cauvery basin. They pointed out that several parts of the region were facing a severe drinking water shortage, yet water was being released to Tamil Nadu primarily for agricultural purposes.Questioning the rationale behind the order, the protesters said the govt and water management authorities should first assess water availability in Karnataka and safeguard the drinking water needs of residents, as well as the interests of farmers, before releasing water to the neighbouring state.They demanded that Karnataka stop releasing water to Tamil Nadu under the current circumstances. Expressing their anger, the protesters said that forcing the state to release water despite shortages would push farmers into deeper distress.They also sought a complete waiver of farmers’ loans in view of the prevailing agrarian crisis and urged the govt to expedite the construction of the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project. The protesters warned that they would intensify their agitation if authorities continued with the decision to release additional water to Tamil Nadu.Mandya MLA Ravikumar Ganiga alleged that Karnataka’s concerns were being ignored by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the CWMA, claiming that Tamil Nadu officials wielded considerable influence over the proceedings. Speaking to reporters, he said Karnataka could not continue releasing water while struggling to meet the drinking water needs of its own people and farmers.He questioned Tamil Nadu’s demand for Cauvery water when the Mettur reservoir reportedly had substantial storage and farmers in Karnataka were being advised against taking up cultivation. Ganiga welcomed the state govt’s decision to approach the Supreme Court and said the Mekedatu balancing reservoir was the only permanent solution to the dispute. He also criticised BJP MPs from Karnataka for remaining silent on the issue.Meanwhile, the KRS reservoir has reduced its outflow to 1,919 cusecs. The reservoir is currently receiving an inflow of 2,912 cusecs, while its live storage has declined to 20.1tmcft. The water level stood at 106.7ft.
