Farmers Stage Semi-Nude Protest in Mandya Over Delay in KRS Canal Water Release
Hundreds of farmers in Karnataka's Mandya district staged a massive protest demanding the release of irrigation water from the KRS reservoir to the canal network immediately. Protesters blocked the old highway between Mysuru and Bengaluru to block traffic and draw the attention of district authorities.
The farmers were upset and angry at the delay in the release of water despite the high water level in the KRS reservoir. The protesters say that the farmers' standing crops, sugarcane, and other crops are drying up because of the long-term shortage of irrigation water.
As part of their demonstration, several farmers staged a “semi-nude protest,” as they were protesting with the agricultural workers a “semi-nude protest” in protest, as well as a protest of solidarity and the extent of their distress and the magnitude of the crisis. They shouted slogans against the government and urged the government to act immediately to save their crops and livelihoods.
The protesters argued that timely water release is crucial during this stage of cultivation. Each day without irrigation increases crop failure risks for farmers who are already having trouble paying cultivation costs, they argued.
Farmers gathered in large numbers and blocked the highway for some time. Motorists were diverted to other routes, and police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order.
During the protest, farmers also tried to march towards the Mandya Deputy Commissioner's Office to submit their demands directly to the district administration. Police intervened to avoid any untoward incidents, and officials had a talk with representatives of protesting farmers later on.
Farmer leaders said the government needs to prioritise irrigation needs, especially if there is water in the reservoir. They asked why canal water had not been released despite repeated appeals from agricultural communities across the district.
Mandya, commonly referred to as the sugar bowl of Karnataka, depends heavily on the Cauvery irrigation system for cultivation. Crops such as sugarcane, paddy, and other crops are grown with canal water from the KRS reservoir. Any delay in water release has a severe impact on agricultural productivity and the rural economy.
The protesters warned that if their demands are not met quickly, they will be in a very strong mood to come back to the protesters’ demands in the coming days. They said they will continue to press for a transparent schedule for the release of water into the canals and will be active in the coming days, and will continue to push for the irrigation authorities and state government to announce a clear schedule for releasing water into the canals and also for a steady flow of water into the canals for the cultivation season.
The district administration assured farmer representatives that they would be notified of their concerns. But no immediate announcement of water release had been made at the time of the protest.
The incident underlines the perennial challenges farmers face in securing timely irrigation when water is available in reservoirs. In this context, water management and communication between farmers and the authorities are critical to avoid such conflicts, experts say.
As the discussions continue, farmers do not doubt that the government will respond quickly to their demands and release water from the KRS reservoir before irreversible damage is done to the standing crops. The outcome of such negotiations will determine the next step of the farmers' agitation.
