Farmers block road for water

HUBBALLI:

Farmers

blocked a road at Basava Circle in Manvi in Raichur district and demanded water to tail end farm lands from the left bank canal of Tungabhadra dam and right bank canal of Narayanpur dam.

Under the banner of Swaraj India Party, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, hundreds of farmers staged the road-blockade for two hours. Swaraj India Party state president Chamarasa Malipatil said that there has been only 30% sowing in Raichur district due to shortage of rain. "Though sowing of sunflower, cotton and tur is done, they are dried up due to shortage of rain. Paddy is still not sown. Though two major irrigation projects are in the district, the farmers are not getting properly," he said.

Patil alleged that 1.5 lakh acre of land from the 0km to 69 km along the left bank canal of Tungabhadra dam were being illegally irrigated. "Due to this, water is not reaching Manvi and Raichur taluks. Most of the water is utilised by farmers in Koppal, Gangavathi and Sindhanur taluks. The situation will be grim in Manvi and Raichur taluks if the illegal water extraction is not stopped. Officials have turned a blind eye even though water is being stolen," he alleged.

An irrigation official of Yermarus section came to the spot and said that water management had become difficult due to staff shortage. He assured to resolve the issue in two days.