---
title: "Kabini reservoir drops 10 ft as farmers protest water release to Tamil Nadu"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/kabini-reservoir-protest-water-release-ahj2x
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Politics
published: 2026-08-24T14:32:24.922Z
modified: 2026-08-24T16:00:06.139Z
language: en-IN
---

# Kabini reservoir drops 10 ft as farmers protest water release to Tamil Nadu

Farmers in Karnataka’s Kabini-Cauvery area protested in Mysuru over water releases to Tamil Nadu, as the reservoir level fell about 10 ft after being full 25 days earlier. Leaders accused the government of ignoring local needs and demanded stopping releases to Tamil Nadu and ensuring water for stand

## Key takeaways

- Kabini reservoir level dropped by nearly 10 feet after being full 25 days earlier.
- Farmers from the State Sugarcane Growers’ Association protested at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mysuru.
- Protestors demand water for standing crops and halt releases to Tamil Nadu, accusing the government of sidelining local farmers.
- Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanta Reddy visited the site and planned to convey concerns to the Bengaluru irrigation advisory committee.

## What Happened

Farmers belonging to the State Sugarcane Growers’ Association staged a dharna at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mysuru on Monday. The Kabini reservoir’s water level fell by nearly 10 ft after being full just 25 days earlier. Protestors urged that water be released for standing crops and that further releases to Tamil Nadu be halted. Association president Kurubur Shanthakumar criticised a Bengaluru-based irrigation advisory meeting and said the reservoir was built to serve Karnataka’s farmers. He demanded an immediate stop to releases to Tamil Nadu and adequate water for crops in the Kabini command area. Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanta Reddy visited the protest site and said he would relay the farmers’ views and demands to the upcoming meeting in Bengaluru.

Officials indicated the deputy commissioner planned to take the farmers’ concerns to the irrigation advisory committee meeting in Bengaluru. The protest underscored tensions between Karnataka’s local agricultural interests and inter-state water-sharing decisions.

## Why It Matters

The dispute highlights the political and logistical strain of water management in the Kabini-Cauvery system, with local farmers arguing that Karnataka’s irrigation needs should be prioritized. The immediate concern for farmers is securing water for crops in the Kabini command area, while the broader issue involves inter-state water allocation and governance decisions that affect agriculture in the region.

## Background

The Kabini reservoir is part of the broader Kabini-Cauvery command area, where local farming groups have long pressed for policies that prioritize Karnataka’s agricultural needs. Officials had scheduled an irrigation advisory committee meeting in Bengaluru, which local farmers criticized as removing the discussion from the field where water requirements are most acute.

## Key Facts

- The Kabini reservoir water level declined by nearly 10 feet.
- The reservoir had been full about 25 days prior to the observed decline.
- The protest took place at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mysuru.
- The protesting group is the State Sugarcane Growers’ Association; its president is Kurubur Shanthakumar.
- The protest demanded water for standing crops and cessation of further releases to Tamil Nadu.

## What Happens Next

The farmers’ demands were to be presented at the irrigation advisory committee meeting in Bengaluru. No further scheduled actions are detailed in the source material, but the authorities indicated the farmers’ views would be placed before the committee.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/kabini-reservoir-protest-water-release-ahj2x
Reported from: Multiple Sources