Karnataka farmers’ opposition stalls Krishna water flow to T
Telangana govt is creating hurdles for gazette notification to increase the height of Almatti dam from 519 metres to 524 metres. The protests have left Telangana waiting for the release promised during meetings held on September 23 and 24, when a delegation led by ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and Vakiti Srihari, along with MPs and MLAs, met Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar seeking 5,000 cusecs a day for 30 days. Karnataka had then agreed in principle to release 3 tmcft in phases.
On the protests in Karnataka, Krishna Rao noted that all states were facing water stress due to deficient rainfall but expressed confidence that Karnataka would honour its commitment to release 3 tmcft. Because of poor inflows caused by El Niño conditions and deficient rainfall, he said Telangana, too, was being forced to regulate supplies. “If Karnataka releases half or one tmc for drinking purposes, farmers won’t object. If it is released for agricultural usage, we will intensify the stir,” Kulkarni said.
Akhanda Karnataka Raitha Sangha general secretary Aravind Kulkarni said farmers were strongly opposed to releasing water for irrigation in Telangana when several districts in Karnataka were facing acute scarcity. We have staged dharanas and are planning to hold meetings next in Muddebihal, Yadagiri and other places in seven districts,” he said. Krishna Rao said Karnataka was following a “10 days on, 10 days off” pattern in releasing water from its reservoirs, resulting in only seepage flows reaching Jurala when releases were made upstream. “Even from the Jurala project, the irrigation department is releasing water ‘five days on and five days off’ basis keeping in view of poor water inflows in the project due to El Niño impact,” he said. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha Vijayapura district president Sangamesh Sagar said the state should first secure water needs of its own drought-hit regions before considering Telangana’s demand. It should first release water to lakes and streams of Karnataka, which is reeling under drought and ensure availability of water till the next rainy season,” he said.
“Karnataka govt need not yield to pressures of Telangana govt. farmer leaders have maintained that any water supplied for irrigation would be opposed While Karnataka industries minister MB Patil has supported releasing a limited quantity of water on humanitarian grounds for drinking purposes. “The Karnataka govt should realise that Almatti dam was filled only after heavy rains in Maharashtra.