Bengaluru: Alleging bureaucratic apathy in the Hemavati basin, where farmers are losing their crop for the second successive year, Janata Dal (Secular) leader Mr H.D. Revanna has urged the government to announce Rs 50,000 compensation to farmers in the basin.
Speaking to reporters after submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister here on Friday, Mr Revanna said that over seven lakh acres of land comes under the Hemavati basin, spread across Hassan, Tumakuru and Mandya districts. The farmers did not get proper information on water release. Consequently, the crops were lost, he said.
Even before the Cauvery crisis erupted, the government had released 9.5 tmcft water from Gorur dam to Krishna Raja Sagar for releasing to Tamil Nadu.
Another 7.5 tmcft water was released to Tumakuru and Mandya, Mr. Revanna said. Only one tmcft was used for drinking purposes in Hassan district.
This had left only 17.5 tmcft water in the dam. After the Supreme Court order on release of water to TN, another 10 tmcft was released to KRS for releasing to Tamil Nadu, the former minister said.
Now only 4 tmcft water is left in the dam. The farmers are not getting water this year too, Mr Revanna lamented.
Meanwhile, the state government order banning new borewells has resulted in a drinking water shortage in many areas. The state government should immediately revoke the order, Mr Revanna said.
