The indefinite strike by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) members here, demanding Cauvery and Hemavati waters to canals for saving standing crops, entered the third day on Sunday. Some Congress and BJP leaders extended their solidarity to the agitators by visiting the protest venue.
Crops on hundreds of acres of land have withered following the lack of water and the prevailing dry weather. The cultivators, afraid of losing crops, launched the agitation under the banner of KRRS on Saturday.
KRRS leader Darshan Puttannaiah, who is the son of K.S. Puttannaiah, late Melkote MLA, has been leading the agitation. He urged the State government to effectively place the demands [for water] before the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) meeting on June 25. He urged officials to brief the CWMA effectively about the situation to seek water required to save the crops.
Congress leader H.N. Ravindra, former president of Indian Medical Association (IMA), and BJP leader Siddaramaiah, who unsuccessfully contested the byelection to Mandya Lok Sabha constituency in 2018, and their supporters visited the protest venue on Monday. They also urged the State government to initiate measures to get Cauvery and Hemavati waters to save the crops.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner N. Manjushree stated that she has already requested the CWMA to take measures on the issue.
Nevertheless, according to a communiqué, the CWMA has expressed its inability by stating that available storage will be used only for drinking following poor storage in reservoirs. The request would be considered when the inflow quantum increases. This has been informed to Mr. Puttanaiah on several occasions on the telephone, she has said in the communiqué.