The Federation of Farmers’ Organisations and State Sugarcane Growers’ Association held a demonstration in Mysuru on Tuesday, criticising the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) order to release 12,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu over the next 15 days.Federation president Kurubur Shanthakumar told reporters that the Cauvery panel’s directive came even as water continued to flow to Tamil Nadu regardless.He said water was flowing to Tamil Nadu not because of the CWRC’s directions, but due to rains. “If rains come, we will release water,” he said.Instead of issuing directions to Karnataka to release Cauvery water, Mr. Shanthakumar said there was a need for appropriate directions on the construction of the Mekedatu reservoir. If the balancing reservoir is built at Mekedatu, about 65 tmcft of water could be stored, benefiting both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka during crises.On the call for a Karnataka bandh on August 13, Mr. Shanthakumar said the farmers’ body would take a final decision on participating in the agitation on Wednesday.Noting that a bandh would affect the public, he said the matter would be discussed within the farmers’ outfit and an appropriate decision taken. Published - August 11, 2026 08:38 pm IST