BJP to lay siege to KRS tank if water not released for standing crops, warns Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly R. Ashok

R. Ashok. | Photo credit: File photo

The BJP will besiege the KRS tank near here if the government does not release water to the standing crops in the next three days, warned Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashok.

Speaking to reporters after visiting sugarcane fields in Malavalli and surrounding areas in Mandya district on Monday (July 13), Mr. Ashok said the crops had dried up due to water scarcity in several parts of the Cauvery basin.

The government must immediately release water from the KRS reservoir and hold an all-party meeting to discuss the issue of Cauvery water sharing with Tamil Nadu, he said.

“If the water is not released within three days, the BJP will lay siege to the KRS tank,” he threatened.

Claiming that the Tamil Nadu government has gone to court seeking the release of Cauvery water, the Karnataka government needs to take a firm stand and decide how to fight the matter in court.

Alleging that the Congress party was busy discussing cabinet expansion and the government was not responding to farmers’ plight, he said, “The government should first discuss the drought situation or call a special session of the assembly. It should listen to the problems of MLAs from all constituencies.”

Further claiming that the government had earlier released water when the level in the KRS reservoir was 86 feet, Mr. Ashok said releasing water at least once would help save the sugarcane crop from drying up. “Even if water is not provided for new crops, it must be provided for existing crops,” he said.

On the Bidadi township issue, Mr. Ashok alleged that the Congress government was trying to acquire the fertile land of Bidadi, which has thousands of coconut and mango trees, for “real estate development”.

Published – 13 Jul 2026 22:31 IST