Cauvery water protests erupt in Karnataka as farmers block highway

Protests over water release escalated in Karnataka on two fronts. In Mandya, farmers and Kannada Sena activists blocked the old Bengaluru-Mysuru highway on Thursday, protesting the release of 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days starting August 12. The Cauvery Water Management Authority had upheld the recommendation. Mandya MLA Ravi Kumar Gowda demanded the release be stopped, warning of a serious situation if Karnataka's farmers are denied water. Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj called for statewide unity. The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court seeking enforcement of the CWMA order.

Separately, in the Tungabhadra region, farmers from four districts protesting at Hosapete secured a victory. The Tungabhadra Board agreed on Tuesday to release 2,000 cusecs of water for 10 days to rivers, after a protest led by Sindhanur MLA Hampangouda Badarli. Farmers had demanded water for livestock and aquatic animals. Some farmers criticised Irrigation Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, accusing him of indifference, and threatened to protest again if water is not supplied within 10 days. A verbal clash between MLA Badarli and former MLA Basavaraj Dadesugur was pacified by police.

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar raised the Cauvery dispute with Union Minister Amit Shah at a southern chief ministers' meeting, pitching for a balancing reservoir at Mekedatu.