Farmers Stage Dharna at Kabini Dam in H.D. Kote Against Water Release to Tamil Nadu

Hundreds of farmers led by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Hasiru Sene convened at the Kabini Reservoir site in Beechanahalli, located in H.D. Kote taluk of Mysuru district, to protest against the state government's ongoing release of water to Tamil Nadu. Demonstrators staged a dharna near the dam, raising slogans against irrigation officials and local administration over the management of Cauvery basin water reserves. Protesting farmers pointed out that the water level in the Kabini Dam had dropped significantly from its maximum capacity of 2,284 feet to around 2,272 feet due to sustained daily discharges. They highlighted that while daily inflow into the reservoir had receded to approximately 4,500 cusecs, dam authorities continued releasing nearly 8,000 cusecs downstream. Farmers confronted local officials, including the H.D. Kote tahsildar and irrigation executive engineers, urging them to halt river discharge immediately. The agitation reflects growing angst among agricultural communities across Mysuru district as the farming season progresses. Demonstrators stressed that water ought to be routed through local canal networks and stored in regional lakes to safeguard standing crops and drinking water supplies before any surplus is allowed to flow downstream. They warned of intensifying their agitations if the administration fails to prioritize local agricultural needs.