MYSURU:With the Cauvery stir spreading across Mandya district, members of the Organic Farmers Forum on Wednesday took out a protest march and blocked Bengaluru-Mysuru highway demanding water for irrigation canals from KRS.
The farmers said Mysuru region is staring at a third successive drought year and around 200 farmers had ended their lives in Mandya district in the last two years due to drought.“Despite farmers committing suicide, the government has not released water for irrigation canals. The failure of monsoon has left farmers in the lurch who are in confusion whether to take up farming activities or not,” they said. Alleging that the government has gone back on its earlier promise of releasing water for canals, they said it has been releasing water for Tamil Nadu in the guise of following the Cauvery Tribunal order. They urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to focus first on local farmers and stop showing step motherly attitude towards Mandya district.
Krishikara Sahakara Sangha president S C Madhuchandran urged the CM to release water for short term semi dry crops or pay scientific relief price.Farmers staged a protest at Hullahalli in Nanjangud taluk demanding water for Kabini irrigation canals. The farmers threatened to block the national highway from 6 am to 6 pm on August 9, if the government continues to release water to TN.