R. Madhavaraj, president of the Karnataka State Farmers Association and the State Unit of Hasirusena, has demanded that water be released into the Tungabhadra Left Bank and Right Bank canals until December 15 to save crops withering due to a monsoon rain deficit in Ballari district. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he highlighted that the district has experienced a 50 to 60 percent shortfall in monsoon rainfall this season.
Madhavaraj stated that farmers who sowed jowar, cotton, ragi, and groundnut based on the limited rain have invested between ₹30,000 and ₹40,000 per acre, often through bank and private loans, but their crops are now at risk due to water scarcity. He noted that 2.81 lakh acres in Ballari district depend on the irrigation from the Tungabhadra High Level Canal (HLC) and Low Level Canal (LLC). Although the Irrigation Advisory Committee (IAC) had scheduled water release until November 10, farmers are alarmed by reports that the Karnataka Irrigation Corporation was instructed to stop water supply as early as October 13.
The union leader pointed out that approximately one lakh acres under the HLC are planted with groundnut, a crop requiring water for at least 160 days. With farmers having incurred costs of ₹1.50 lakh per acre, a water shortage would result in significant losses. Madhavaraj condemned the attempt to stop water before the scheduled date and demanded the government disclose who issued such instructions. He warned that the state government, ministers, MLAs, and the IAC would be directly responsible if the issue is ignored, emphasizing that the IAC meeting scheduled for the 19th must pass a resolution to extend water supply until December 15. He further detailed that per the Tungabhadra Inter-State Council decision, the allocation was set at 4,100 cusecs for the Left Bank Main Canal, 1,200 cusecs for the Right Bank Upper Canal, and 650 cusecs for the Right Bank Lower Canal.