MYSURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed irrigation authorities to release water from KRS and Kabini reservoirs for a week to save standing crops in the Cauvery achukat.
Addressing Congress party workers’ meet at Nanjangud here on Sunday, the chief minister announced that water will be discharged from the reservoirs from Monday. It may be recalled that farmers from both the KRS and Kabini achukats had threatened to launch a protest from October 27 if the government fails to release water.
Mandya District Minister M Krishnappa said water will be released from KRS reservoir for 10 days starting from Monday for irrigation purpose. He said the water level of KRS is 82 ft, of which 3.3 tmcft will be discharged.
Due to drought, crops in 1.90 lakh hectares were destroyed in the district and the farmers will be given compensation at the earliest, Krishnappa announced. Several taluks in the district have been declared drought-hit and drought relief fund will be released soon to provide basic facilities, he added.
Minister Krishnappa said 2000 cusecs of water will be released to Tamil Nadu as per the Supreme Court verdict.