BELAGAVI
A government order allowing the diversion of 45 million litres per day (MLD) of water from the Hidkal Dam to industrial areas in Hubballi-Dharwad has sparked widespread outrage in the district. Environmental groups, farmers' associations, Dalit organisations, and various civil society groups are gearing up for large-scale protests, with Kannada organisations leading the charge. Ashok Chandaragi, President of the Zilla Kannada Sanghatanegala Kriya Samiti, wrote a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and district Minister Satish Jarkiholi, demanding immediate withdrawal of the order. He called the decision ‘anti-public' and criticised the silence of elected representatives. Hidkal Dam is a crucial source of drinking water for the city and hundreds of villages across Belagavi and Bagalkot districts. Local communities, both human and livestock, repeatedly faced water shortages in the past. Against this backdrop, the diversion of 45 MLD of water to support industrial expansion in another district triggered anger and disbelief among the residents.
Chandaragi questioned the government's justification for the order, which claims the water is meant for an upcoming 6,000-acre industrial area in Dharwad district. This is a grossly misleading statement. The water demand for such an industrial zone will only increase with time, he warned. He also cited the example of the Navilutirtha Dam in Savadatti taluk. “Initially, only 2 tmcft of water was supplied from there to Hubballi-Dharwad. Today, it ballooned to 6.5 tmcft. This is a pattern we must not ignore,” he cautioned, accusing Hubballi-Dharwad politicians of exploiting the passivity of Belagavi's political leadership.