Hubballi: In the wake of a spate of farmer suicides in the north Karnataka region, the movement for implementation of Kalasa Banduri Nala project has gained momentum.
More than three decades after a farmers’ rebellion claimed five lives and brought down the Congress government headed by R.Gundurao, a similar struggle may begin in Nargund town if the government continues to neglect the inter-state irrigation project.
The town was shut down on Monday after various agitations by farmers in the last eleven days. The movement was started on July 21 to mark 35 years of the rebellion in Nargund that witnessed an upsurge of farmers against the government decision to impose a betterment levy of Rs 1,500 per acre though water was not flown into the field after construction of Navilutheertha reservoir.
Farmers are staging a road blockade, procession and debate on the problems confronting them by inviting leaders from all sections of society. They are seeking the intervention of the Prime Minister to resolve the deadlock over the irrigation project instead of waiting for settlement of the dispute.
“Large number of farmers are committing suicide due to failure of the monsoon every year in the region. Kalasa-Banduri Nala project will help provide irrigation facility to nine taluks of Dharwad, Gadag, Belagavi and Bagalkot districts. We will not withdraw the agitation till the Chief Minister takes a delegation to the Prime Minister,” said Kalasa-Banduri Horata Samiti president Vijay Kulkarni.
The state government has undertaken the project to provide irrigation facilities and improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and other districts.
It involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri streams, the two tributaries of the Mahadayi river to divert 7.56 tmc of water to Malaprabha river. This project had been on paper for decades and clearance was received from the Centre in 2002. But, the project ran into trouble when the Goa government raised objections.
