Munirabad (Koppal): Water will be released into the Tungabhadra canal network for 90 days based on the 82 tmcft of water currently available in the reservoir, the 126th Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC) meeting of the Tungabhadra Project and Vijayanagara canals decided at the CADA Hall in Munirabad on Tuesday evening.Officials informed the meeting that an additional 16 tmcft would be required to supply water through the canals for 120 days. They added that nearly 16 tmcft of inflow is expected in the coming days, while 10 tmcft must be reserved for drinking water requirements.Minister B Nagendra and MLAs JN Ganesh and BM Nagaraj suggested that water be released for at least 120 days, in line with the demand raised by farmers. Legislators from Koppal, Raichur and Vijayanagara districts also sought the immediate release of water. Farmers’ leaders had made a similar demand during consultations held earlier in the day.After considering suggestions from farmers and public representatives, the meeting unanimously decided to release water for 90 days based on the current availability. Details regarding canal-wise distribution and the release schedule are expected to be announced later.Chairing the meeting, minister Shivaraj Tangadagi said farmers had been consulted before the ICC meeting and the views of all elected representatives were taken into account. He assured farmers that water would be supplied for 90 days based on existing storage levels and said any extension would depend on further rainfall and inflows into the reservoir.Tangadagi also announced that a fresh review meeting would be held on Sept. 11 to assess the storage position and take a decision on any additional release.CADA chairperson Hasan Sab Dotihal, deputy commissioners Suresh B Itnal and Kavita S Mannikeri, SPs Ram L Arasiddi and Jahnavi S, along with irrigation department engineers, attended the meeting.
