Davanagere
Farmers in Davanagere district have demanded immediate release of water from the Bhadra reservoir into irrigation canals, warning of widespread protests if the government fails to act by August 15. The reservoir currently holds around 172 feet of water, equivalent to nearly 54 TMC, but the Irrigation Advisory Committee has not yet announced a decision on releasing water for the kharif paddy crop.
A large meeting organised by the Bharatiya Raitha Okkoota was held under the leadership of irrigation expert Prof. C Narasimhaiah and former minister S A Ravindranath. Hundreds of farmers from Davanagere, Harihar, Honnali and Malebennur participated. Farmers demanded that water be released immediately to save paddy fields that have already been planted.
Farmers said nearly 1.5 lakh acres in Davanagere district depend on Bhadra water for paddy cultivation. However, due to inadequate rainfall during June and July, only about 25 per cent of the area has been planted. Recent rainfall has provided some relief, encouraging farmers to continue cultivation, but they fear that crops will fail without assured irrigation.
Farmer leaders warned that if water is not released by August 15, they will launch protests from August 16, including blocking national highways, railway services and bus movement. They also threatened to observe a Davanagere bandh. Leaders said farmers had already invested heavily in cultivation by depending on borewells and could not afford further losses.
Farmer leader Shamanur Lingraj said urged authorities to release water while the monsoon remained active.
Deputy Commissioner Dr G M Gangadharaswamy assured the farmers that their demands would be brought to the notice of the government, ministers, legislators and the Irrigation Consultative Committee. He said delays could damage paddy crops and promised to pursue the matter with the authorities. The reservoir was receiving around 8,000 to 10,000 cusecs of water daily and needed only about 16 TMC more to reach full capacity.Shamanur Lingraj, Farmer leader
