The BJP will lay siege to KRS reservoir near here if the government does not release water to standing crops in the next three days, warned Leader of the 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 crops have dried up due to lack of water 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 sharing Cauvery water with Tamil Nadu, he stated.

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

Claiming that the Tamil Nadu government approaches the court for release of Cauvery water, the Karnataka government must take a firm stand and decide how to fight the matter in court. 

Alleging that the Congress party was busy with discussions on expanding the Cabinet and the government was not responding to the farmers’ distress, he said, “The government should first discuss the drought situation or convene 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 KRS reservoir was 86 feet, Mr. Ashok said the release of water at least once will help save the sugarcane crop from drying. “Even if water is not given for new crops, it must be provided for the existing crops,” he said.

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

Published - July 13, 2026 10:31 pm IST