Activists Oppose Mysuru Dasara Kambala Over Huge Water Demand Amid Drought

Environmentalists and experts are urging the Karnataka government to cancel the upcoming Kambala buffalo race planned for the Mysuru Dasara festival at Saathgalli near Ring road in Mysuru, citing concerns over the usage of 10 lakh liters of water during a predicted drought. The two-day event, scheduled for October 18 and October 19, has drawn criticism as the state faces below-normal monsoon predictions and depleting water resources that also supply Bengaluru.

Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai, who is organizing the event alongside the Mysuru district administration, stated that the race will take place on a 145-meter-long and 10-meter-wide muddy track. The venue is a 27.3-acre Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotted for a cycle velodrome project in Saathgalli.

According to organizers, the event will require 5 lakh liters of water per day, totaling 10 lakh liters over 48 hours. They plan to drill two borewells to source this water. Around 175 to 200 pairs of buffaloes from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are expected to participate, attracting an estimated crowd of 10 lakh people. The proposed budget for the event is between Rs 6 crore and Rs 8 crore.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Bengaluru Centre has predicted a below-normal South West Monsoon across Karnataka, including the Cauvery basin, due to the El Nino effect. Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar and Chief Secretary Shalini Rajaneesh have already called for water conservation across the state.

Ganesh, the Chief Engineer of Irrigation (South) Zone, noted that 2.45 TMC of Cauvery water is required monthly for drinking purposes in Bengaluru and Mysuru. While current reservoir levels can sustain drinking water needs for eight months, officials are hesitant to release water for irrigation.

Environmentalist Ravi Bale argued that the government should halt the event to conserve water and electricity, suggesting a simpler traditional Dasara celebration instead. He noted that Kambala, a coastal harvest festival, does not suit urban landscapes. Savitha Nagbhushan from People for Animals (PFA) also raised concerns over animal welfare, stating that bringing more animals to such events causes further suffering.

Mysuru Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy stated that the state government intends to showcase coastal culture through Kambala. He added that the final scale of the Dasara festival will be decided by the high-power committee, but maintained that the government currently plans for the event to proceed.