Raichur bandh partial

RAICHUR: The Raichur bandh, called by Janata Dal (S) on Thursday against the government’s “failure to maintain the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal’’, was partially successful. Shops and business establishment downed shutters for a few hours. While the bandh affected public transporation, schools and colleges were spared.
The protesters, led by former minister Muniyappa Muddappa, took out a rally from Dr Dr Ambedkar Circle to the deputy commissioner’s office.District JD (S) president Rizwan, farmer leader Nageshwar Rao and nearly 200 farmers participated in the march.
They submitted a memorandum to the DC, addressed to the CM, seeking compensation to farmers who had suffered crop loss due to overflow of canal water.
Protesters sought the release of water to the canal at the earliest and uninterrupted power to farmers for irrigating their lands to grow alternative crops.
Forum for farmers: Raichur Zilla Raithara Hitarakshana Vedike, an apolitical forum, has been formed under the leadership of former minister M.S. Patil to protect the rights of farmers. Patil is also the state president of Lok Jana Shakti. Members of the forum on Thursday staged a dharna before the DC’s office for water.
Patil said the dharna was against the “injustice caused to the tail-end farmers of Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal’’.
He and his followers demanded that the government either establish a new and separate board to be named Tungabhadra Jala Bhagya Nigama and provide uninterrupted power to farmers. He appealed to the people to join the dharna.
‘Cong not to blame’: A. Vasanth Kumar, the chairman of urban development authority, said the Congress was not responsible for the breach in the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal at Mile 41. He told reporters that on learning about the breach, elected representatives rushed to the spot, took steps to prevent leakage and held discussions with water resources minister H.K. Patil and irrigation engineers.