One of the wards in Sampige village the birthplace of famous Kannada litterateur late B M Srikantaiah, has appealed to officials several times in this connection, but in vain.

After the road, now it is for water that the people here have to struggle for, said Sampige Citizens Welfare Committee Secretary Vijay Kumar. Earlier once the villagers had discussed the issue with Executive Engineer D B Raju.

He had directed Turuvekere taluk Assistant Executive Engineer Govindegowda to the village for inspection. The AEE, who visited the village, sought time to solve their problem. He also assured the villagers of providing four mini tanks. However, he didn’t keep his words. The officers, whom the villagers met again didn’t respond.

After much pursuit, they were shocked to know that the previous officers had written to the seniors that there wasn’t any problem in the village!Vijaya Kumar said that the villagers elaborated on the drinking water crisis to the Zilla Panchayat President Krishnamurty who took the officials to task and served notices on them. He also told the villagers that soon new tanks will be constructed in the village as the old tank is leaking.

Vijay Kumar, SRV Jay, S Tontadarya, S H Shadakshari, S N Yogesh, S T Srinivas Vinod and others threatened to intensify their protest if their demand for drinking water was not met. They submitted a memorandum to the Zilla Panchayat president.