Koppal: Young Farmers Forum – Karnataka has submitted 10 demands to Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC) of the Tungabhadra Project, seeking action on reservoir storage capacity, water accounting, irrigation planning, and governance at its next meeting.In a representation to the ICC chairperson and member-secretary, the forum endorsed a submission made by Sadananda Heggadal Math on Octr 17 on Tungabhadra Dam storage, accounting and governance. It sought circulation of the representation and accompanying investigative research report among committee members.The Forum said transparent governance and reliable water accounting were essential to ensure assured irrigation and protect small farmers’ livelihoods in the Tungabhadra command area.It sought presentation of the reservoir’s current storage, cumulative inflows and drinking-water reserve, based on the Tungabhadra Board’s daily report, alongside the 10-year average. It also sought Rabi irrigation planning based on published inflow scenarios.The forum called for a fresh independent capacity survey, verified by the Central Water Commission, National Institute of Hydrology or National Remote Sensing Centre. Questioning the 18 TMC notional evaporation accounted for against measured evaporation, it sought publication of the operative rule and calculation sheets.It sought an update on the DPR for the Navali balancing reservoir, a time-bound meeting involving the three states and a timeline for the desilting DPR following the June 2026 announcement.Other demands include updates on modernisation of the Right Bank Low-Level Canal and Left Bank structures, quarterly Tungabhadra Board meetings with minutes published online, and disclosure of the cost-sharing formula for common dam and spillway-gate works.The forum also objected to holding ICC meetings in Bengaluru instead of Hosapete or at a public venue near the project.
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