The release of 3 lakh cusecs of water from the Tungabhadra dam, which has been ongoing since Sunday due to a broken crest gate, threatens the crops on nearly 12 lakh hectares of agricultural land in Ballari, Raichur, Koppal, and Vijayanagara districts. With the current discharge exceeding 2 lakh cusecs, farmers are concerned about potential flooding and the loss of their crops.
To expedite repairs on the damaged crest gate, authorities are considering increasing the outflow to 3 lakh cusecs. Farmers warn that such a discharge level would further endanger their fields. Some farmers from Hosapete have criticized the Tungabhadra Dam Board for neglecting maintenance over the past two years, despite the state experiencing minimal rainfall. They plan to present a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is scheduled to visit the dam on August 13.
Purshottam Gowda J, President of the Tungabhadra Farmers Association in Hosapete, stated that the recent rains, following a period of drought, had initially been promising. He criticized the authorities for delaying necessary maintenance and questioned their responsibility for the current situation. Gowda emphasized that farmers across Ballari, Koppal, Vijayanagara, and Raichur rely on the dam for irrigation and demanded accountability and punishment for the responsible officials.
