The Federation of State Farmers’ Associations and State Sugarcane Growers’ Association have urged the Karnataka government to provide grants for developments of lakes in Mysuru district.
In a memorandum addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru by a delegation of farmers’ bodies led by Kurubur Shanthakumar, the farmers have pointed out that there were hundreds of lakes in the district, but due to encroachment, the sources of water to these lakes had dried up, leading to the depletion of groundwater.
“Silt has been accumulating in the lakes for about 80 years, worsening groundwater depletion,” Mr. Shanthakumar said, while suggesting that the silt, if removed during summer and supplied to the farmers’ fields free of cost, would enhance soil fertility.
Equating the silt to DAP and urea fertilizer provided by the government free of cost, Mr. Shanthakumar claimed that it would also help the farmers grow healthy and chemical-free agricultural produce for the public. “This would also reduce health issues and save money for the public, while encouraging farmers and improving groundwater levels,” he said.
Mr. Shanthakumar also urged the government to remove encroachments on natural canals to aid the collection of rainwater, which, in turn, will help recharge groundwater in and around 40 lakh borewells in the State.
