Union Minister Sadananda Gowda writes to Centre and Cauvery Board requesting an additional release of 2 Thousand Million Cubic Feet water to drought-ridden Mandya district. Read letter here

As water crisis grips Karnataka, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers and BJP leader Sadananda Gowda, on Thursday has written a letter to Chairman of Cauvery Water Manment Authority Masood Hussain and Union Jalshakti minister Gajendra Shekhawat requesting additional 2 Thousand Million Cubic Feet. (TMC) water from KRS dam to Karnataka's Mandya district, as requested by Lok Sabha MP Sumalatha Ambareesh to overcome crops loss and mitigate farmers' crisis.

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In letter released by minister, he states that Mandya which is located near banks of Cauvery is mainly dependent on agricultural income with crops like paddy, sugarcane, jowar, maize, cotton, banana, ragi, coconut, pulses and vegetables cultivated in area. He also states as re is deficit rainfall in state, canals irrigating area are dry which have created a crisis for farmers.

Stating that while re is 80 feet of water is available with 2.4 TMC reserve supply, he requests Shekhawat and Hussain to examine issue and do needful.

Here is his letter:

Earlier on Saturday, state Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, among all political turmoil, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought central assistance to state reeling under severe drought due to 45 percent shortfall in rainfall.

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Before Lok Sabha polls, state government in its memorandum to Centre had sought financial assistance of Rs 2,064 crore to provide relief to farmers hit by drought during rabi season.  

Karnataka has declared drought in 156 taluks in 30 districts. As many as 107 taluks are facing severe drought, while 49 taluks have a moderate drought.

About 20.40 lakh hectare farmland has been affected due to drought in state. Crop loss is estimated in 19.46 lakh hectare, according to state government. state had faced drought during Kharif season of 2018-19 crop year (July-June).