Reportedly the struggle of Bellary farmers for Tungabhadra water has started. Bellary farmers have started their struggle for tungabhadra river water in the same way that Mandya farmers started their struggle for Cauvery water. It is the second largest reservoir in the state. The water of the same reservoir should go to the farmers of some districts of the state including Andhra and Telangana.. This time because the reservoir is not filled to the expected level, the farmers are not getting enough water in the canal. If only the farmers do not drain the water in the canal, the crop will be damaged and they are expressing their outrage by besieging the Tungabhadra Board office through a bike rally from Bellary.

From Bellary to the Tungabhadra Reservoir, food donors are going on a bike rally. As it is dark under the lamp, there is no water for the farmers even in the state's second largest Tungabhadra Reservoir in Vijayanagar district of Bellary. Because this time it is not as full as expected and the background of rains in Raichur, Koppal, Vijayanagar including Bellary has started for water. Due to rains in the hill country too, the 100 tmc capacity reservoir was filled only 75 tmc this time. Thus, keeping in view the availability of water in the reservoir, it was decided in the board meeting that water will be released in the HLC canal till november 10. However, farmers are lamenting that if water is not given till the end of December, the chilli crop will be completely ruined. Therefore, demanding the release of water, they went on a bike rally from Bellary to Tibidam and protested to the reservoir board office.

Harmful effect of Monsoon: If the Monsoon had rained well in Bellary during the current season, it would have been convenient to use rain water first and then canal water. However, this time there is no rain at all, so we are completely dependent on canal water. Andhra's kurnool Anantarapur district including Bellary, Koppal, Raichur and Vijayanagar districts need water from Tungabhadra Reservoir for millions of acres of crops including drinking water. Farmers Purushottama Gowda, Viresh and Eriswamy have expressed concern that if water does not flow for the crop till the end of December, the rice crop including chilli and cotton will be completely ruined.

Will the farmers be able to handle the monsoon rains?: Rs 25,000 per acre. If the farmers who have spent money are not given water now till December, it is certain that they will lose. If all the water is left in such a reservoir, it will be difficult to provide drinking water till the summer season. So now the farmers have expressed their cries that there is no other way but to pray to god for monsoon rains.