Bangalore : Farmers in Mandya district in Karnataka blocked the busy Bangalore-Mysore state highway to protest against the government's decision to release water from Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir across Cauvery to Tamil Nadu, while it had delayed release of water to the state's farmers.

Huge vehicular pile up was reported on either sides of the highway at Induvalu village in Mandya district, about 100 km from here, as farmers burnt tyres and protested against the decision of letting out water from KRS which was only half full due to delayed monsoon.

However, Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai, flatly denied that the government had ordered release of water to Tamil Nadu.

''We have let out 3,000 cusecs of water from KRS meant for drinking water supply to Mysore district and to enable filling of irrigation tanks in that district. There was also some leakage.

The government had not ordered release of any water to Tamil Nadu, so far as reservoir level is still low,'' he said.

He said he would ask the Chief Engineer of the reservoir to reduce the outflow further until the level reached 100 feet. At present it was at 91 ft against the full level of 124.8 ft.