Yadgir
The indefinite day-and-night protest by members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, demanding water to fill lakes at Baddepalli in Gurmitkal taluk and Malkappanahalli in Yadgir taluk, intensified on Monday as the agitation entered its fourth day.
Hundreds of farmers and activists attempted to release sheep into the Deputy Commissioner’s office premises to draw attention to their demand. Police closed the main gate and stopped the protesters and sheep from entering the compound. The farmers raised slogans against the government and district administration, leading to a tense situation for some time. The protesters later withdrew the sheep following an appeal by the police.
Farmer leader Maheshgowda Subedar said officials of the Karnataka Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited (KBJNL) had indicated that at least 0.2 TMC of water could be released from the Sannati Barrage. He said such a release could help fill around 35 lakes in Yadgir and Gurmitkal taluks, benefiting farmers and livestock. Farmer leaders Mallannagowda Parivana, Vijayakumar Mullur and Hanamegowda Biranakall alleged that elected representatives were neglecting farmers’ problems and urged them to visit the protest site and hear their concerns.
As there was no response to their demand until evening, the protesters blocked the main road in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Additional Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Kolar visited the site and held talks with the farmers. He said water could not be released at present and appealed to them to withdraw the agitation. Subedar said farmers were willing to visit the reservoirs with the Deputy Commissioner and KBJNL Managing Director to assess the water availability.
“If it is confirmed that there is no water available, we will withdraw the protest. Until then, the agitation will continue,” Subedar said. The talks ended without a resolution and the ADC left the spot.
Farmer leaders Mounesh Sagar, Rakeshgowda Kapoor and Eshappa Hugar, along with several others and women protesters, participated in the agitation. Deputy Commissioner Rahul Pandey, who was in Shahapur taluk for preparations related to a Central drought assessment team’s visit, said the district administration had already conveyed its position on the farmers’ demand.
