Koppal: Farmers from Koppal and Vijayanagara districts have announced an indefinite protest from July 20, demanding the release of water from the Tungabhadra reservoir to the Vijayanagara canal system. The decision followed meetings held in villages across the irrigated belt of Koppal and Hosapete taluks. Farmer leaders said the agitation would continue until water is released to the canals. Farmer leaders Pradeep Hitnal, Prabhuraj Patil Huligi and Kashaiah Harlapur said the reservoir currently holds around 26 tmcft of water and is receiving an inflow of 1,137 cusecs. They alleged that while 3,493 cusecs is being released through the Right Bank Canal to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, no water is being supplied to the Vijayanagara canal network. The farmers said repeated appeals to the Tungabhadra Board for water for the Vijayanagara and Hirehalla canal systems had gone unanswered. They demanded immediate release of water to support farming and drinking water needs in the region. Farmers will gather in front of the Tungabhadra dam at Munirabad on July 20 and warned of intensifying the agitation if their demand is not met.
