Mandya: A high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of deputy commissioner Kumara to initiate immediate survey operations aimed at identifying and clearing encroachments in the backwater areas of the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam.The KRS dam is one of the state’s most critical water resources, catering to drinking water needs, irrigation, and power generation for several districts.The decision followed a joint memorandum submitted by Srirangapatna MLA AB Ramesh Bandisiddegowda and legislative council member Dinesh Guligowda to the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, highlighting the growing number of illegal encroachments in the KRS backwater region.Acting on the memorandum, the DCM directed officials to conduct a comprehensive survey, remove encroachments without delay, install boundary stones, and submit a detailed compliance report. Accordingly, a special committee was constituted under the chairmanship of the assistant commissioner of the Pandavapura sub-division to oversee the entire process.During the meeting, officials observed that unauthorised occupations in the backwater zones led to a reduction in the reservoir’s effective storage capacity and heightened the risk of flooding during the monsoon season, thereby posing a serious threat to public property and the ecological balance of the region. Stressing the gravity of the issue, the DC stated that a scientific and time-bound survey was essential to accurately identify the location, extent, and nature of encroachments.The water resources department and the department of land records were instructed to work in close coordination to demarcate govt and private lands, document illegally occupied areas, and submit a high-precision survey report. Emphasising public interest, the DC urged all officials to discharge their responsibilities diligently to safeguard the KRS backwater area for future generations.The meeting was attended by the deputy director of land records, the assistant commissioner of Pandavapura sub-division, the executive engineer of Cauvery Neeravari Nigama, and the tahsildars of Srirangapatna, Pandavapura, and KR Pet taluks.
