Vijayapura
A protest was held on Monday in Nidgundi town, where vehicles were blocked on the national highway, demanding an increase in the water level of the Almatti Lal Bahadur Shastri Reservoir and urging the government to declare it a national project.
The protest committee led the rally, which was joined by swamijis, farmers, organizational representatives, and local leaders. The event was inaugurated by former Minister SK Bellubbi alongside Shivakumar Swamiji of Karibhantal, Rudramuni Swamiji of Nidagundi Rudreshwara Math, and several other spiritual leaders.
Former Minister SK Bellubbi stressed the importance of safeguarding the interests of North Karnataka’s farmers and demanded implementation of the tribunal's verdict. Arvind Kulkarni, State General Secretary of the Farmers’ Association, accused the Maharashtra government of victimizing North Karnataka farmers by obstructing the reservoir’s height increase, despite no harm to Maharashtra’s villages.
Kulkarni recalled the 2010 second tribunal led by Justice Brijesh Kumar and the 2013 final verdict, which mandated increasing the Almatti reservoir height to 524.256 meters with gate installation. He urged authorities to act according to this decision.
Tahsildar A.D. Amaravadgi arrived at the protest and received a petition from the activists.
Protest committee leaders Vijaya Poojeri, Seethappa Gani, Umesh Walikara, Basavaraj Bagevadi, and others actively participated in the demonstration, highlighting the region’s united stand on the issue.