The Tamil Nadu government’s plan to move a contempt petition against the Karnataka for stopping water release from Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir has caused concern for the irrigation officials.
The officials stopped water release from the reservoir on Monday night after the state stated in the Supreme Court that it was not possible for it to release water further. The SC adjourned the hearing till Monday.
Farmers, politicians and Kannada activists had started mounting pressure on the government and the officials through various protests.
On Monday night, KRS Executive Engineer Viajaykumar convinced the agitating farmers, activists and MLA C S Puttaraju that water release to Tamil Nadu had stopped.
Deputy Commissioner Krishnaiah also said the water release from KRS reservoir had been stopped.
However, the TN government’s decision to file a contempt petition has made the officials jittery. The officials on Tuesday refused to give out the details about KRS water level, inflow and outflow.
Vijaykumar on Tuesday said they stopped water release following 145-mm rainfall in the KRS area. They feared that water release at that time might damage irrigation canals in the region, he said. The rains had already caused damage to Virija Canal near Srirangapatna, he added.
The officials, who managed to release water to TN by diverting it from Visvesvaraya Canal all these days, also reduced the flow into the river following stiff opposition from the protesters.
The officials have not opened the gates even after rains receded in the KRS and Srirangapatna areas as the public anger is yet to die down.
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