MANDYA:
Sowing activities in
Mandya district are picking up after water was released for irrigation from the Krishnarajasagara (
KRS) reservoir, coupled with bountiful rain across Mandya district.
Meanwhile, the rate of inflow of water into the KRS dam is also gradually increasing since a week, owing to copious rain in the catchment areas. During the corresponding period last year, the water level stood at 83.5 ft, which is now at 105ft against the maximum level of 80ft.
The inflow is at 5,058 cusecs while 4,713 cusecs of water is being let into the canal and river. Farmers are hoping that the reservoir will reach its maximum capacity early in the monsoon season.
Mandya farmers are busy in preparing
paddy nurseries as most of them are averse to plant
sugarcane, given that the two major
sugar mills, MySugar and PSSK are closed, and there are no signs that they will be reopened soon. However, farmer leaders are still furious against the state government for not releasing water early from KRS reservoir,as the delay in releasing water disturbed the sowing calendar. “The
paddy seedlings should have been ready for transplanting by now. Unnecessary delay in releasing water to canals from KRS reservoir badly affected the sowing calendar, and now farmers are racing against time to adjust to the paddy growing pattern,” said Shambunahalli Suresh, district president of
KRRS.