Bengaluru: It could well be a case of too little too late for farmers of Mandya district as the state government’s decision to release Cauvery water for irrigation would not help save withering crops of paddy and sugarcane sown in about 70,000 hectares.
Of this year's target of 2,00, 200 hectares, crops have been sown on 1,34,123 hectares during Khariff season with farmers pinning hopes on a good monsoon. With scanty rainfall, the government turned its focus to supplying drinking water to lakhs of residents of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya, Maddur, Channapatna, Ramanagaram and other villages than save standing crops. Later, the government released water from June 28 to August 30 following protests by farmers. The Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC), chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, was scheduled for September 10 but was postponed after the Supreme Court directed Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for Samba crop. The government’s gesture to release around 3000 cusecs into four canals for ten days helped farmers who owned farms close to the canal while others waited in vain for a delayed monsoon.
A top official of agriculture department told Deccan Chronicle: “So far, we did not have any idea about how many days water will be released to canals. Today, water is flowing in our canals and it will take at least ten days to reach tail-end farmers in Malavalli and Maddur. Out of 1.34 lakh hectares (sown till now), 68,680 hectares are in rain fed areas, while the rest have access to canal water. Crops (paddy and sugar cane) in 68,680 hectares has already started withering and revival is impossible unless the receding monsoon becomes active. Only crops in irrigated areas of 70,000 hectares may get a fresh lease of life thanks to release of water from KRS.”
The official explained that farmers incur an expenditure of Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 an acre for cultivation of paddy.
