Magadi MLA H.C. Balakrishna calls for legal fight over Hemavathi river water share

Magadi: "The government cannot suppress farmers and resolve the Hemavathi water issue by using bullets. A legal battle is the only way to secure our rightful share of Hemavathi water," said Magadi MLA H.C. Balakrishna on Saturday.

Addressing reporters at the Congress office, the MLA announced that a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) would be filed in the High Court within the next ten days to demand Magadi taluk’s due share of Hemavathi river water.

Balakrishna urged the judiciary to intervene, stating that elected representatives from Tumakuru are allegedly obstructing the Express Canal work for political mileage. "We are preparing for a legal battle and collecting data on how much water was released to Gottigere in the past. In water allocation, priority must be given to the downstream regions of Magadi and Kunigal taluks," he stressed.

He further proposed that an IAS officer-led committee, similar to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), should be formed to oversee the distribution of Hemavathi water. "The complete administration of the Hemavathi reservoir must be handed over to this committee," he added.

"The committee should decide how much water should be allocated to Tumakuru, Gubbi, Magadi, and Kunigal. Without such a mechanism, the upper riparian regions like Tumakuru will continue to draw water twice while denying our rightful share," Balakrishna alleged.