CM leaves midway as water protests turn too hot

 Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday was forced to cut short his interaction with a group of people who had been agitating for a comprehensive solution to Chikkaballapur’s water problem.

Siddaramaiah, who was in Chikkaballapur for preparing the party for local body elections, was forced to meet members of Shashvata Neeravari Horata Samiti, which is demanding a permanent water supply plan for the district facing severe water shortage. The agitation has entered 125th day in Chadalapura of Chikkaballapur taluk.

When the agitators learnt that Siddaramaiah had no plans to visit the protest spot, committee president R Anjaneya Reddy threatened to commit suicide by consuming pesticide. Later, the chief minister visited the spot and assured them that the Yettinahole project would be completed to provide water to the district.

Dissatisfied with his statement, the agitators said they want the Paramashivaiah report to be implemented as a solution to the water problem.

 The Yettinahole project would in no way solve the problem, they argued.
Siddaramaiah kept arguing that even if they did not want the project, the government would implement it as a solution to tackle the water crisis in Chikkaballapur, Kolar and Bengaluru rural districts.

When the agitators intensified their protests, he left saying even Bengaluru’s effluents would be treated to fill tanks of the districts. Committee member Mallur Harish said, “We do not want the Yettinahole project water or effluent treated water. We want a permanent solution to the problem.

The government is only good at making promises.” Raitha Sangha president Bhaktarahalli Byre Gowda said, “We have been agitating for the last 125 days. It’s not just drinking water. We want water for irrigation too. We want a permanent scheme.” Anjaneya Reddy said the chief minister was only interested in elections and not solving people’s problems.

When the demand is for water, the chief minister is talking about supplying effluent discharge, he pointed out.