4-km traffic jam as farmers protest for water

The protesting farmers accused irrigation officials of negligence, claiming that water should have reached their fields — only 15 km away — within four days. They alleged that unauthorised diversions at the SRSP canal distributary regulator near Koti Nayak Thanda, allegedly done at night due to lax security, dried up their crops. The farmers also asserted that water was diverted to Mothe mandal via the SRSP 36L canal on February 16, leaving Penpahad without adequate supply.

In response, SRSP divisional engineer K. Ramesh arrived at the scene and persuaded the farmers to end their demonstration. He maintained that there was no negligence, explaining that water had been released to the main canal by lifting the gate at the distributary regulator. Ramesh further clarified that any water diversion resulting from unauthorised welding at the regulator was promptly corrected, restoring the supply to Penpahad mandal.