Mysuru: Bringing cheer to farmers, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Friday that water would be released to them from the Krishna Raja Sagar(KRS) dam after the meeting of the Irrigation Consultative Committee(ICC).
Speaking to reporters in Mandya, he said the water would be released in instalments. On the Mahadayi water dispute, he said although his government had written to the Goa and Maharashtra Chief Ministers to resolve it through talks, they were not ready to oblige and were waiting for the water tribunal to give its decision.
"The Mahadayi issue can be resolved through the Prime Minister's intervention. But although we have requested BJP leaders to persuade him to step in they have not done so," he regretted. As for the Mekudaatu project, he said the proposal had been sent to the Centre for its approval. Later, at a programme to launch a mega diary in Gejjalagere, Mr Siddaramaiah observed that Mandya had seen the highest number of farmer suicides in the state and urged people never to lose hope and take such an extreme step.
Meanwhile, at the ICC meeting held at the Mandya Zilla Panchayat on Friday it was decided to release water from the KRS dam for irrigation in Mandya district in instalments for 10 to 18 days, according to Mandya District in-charge Minister, M Krishnappa.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders staged a protest in Mandya, demanding release of KRS water for farmers and condemning the government's failure to invite any Union minister for the launch of developmental programmes under the Amut scheme (third phase of the project to provide drinking water 24/7 to Mandya city and rejuvenate its drainage system). Over 30 of them were arrested and released later.
