The villagers who reside in the command area of the Markandeya reservoir which is in Bodikote hobli of Bangarpet taluk alleged that people and animals in the villages are heavily dependent on the reservoir. The villagers said that though Yeddyurappa had conceived the Yaragolu project and had also released money for the project former Malur MLA is trying to draw political mileage from the project by sacrificing the interest of the Bodikote people.

Villagers alleged that if Malur is allowed to draw water from the reservoir the people in the entire command area will suffer.