The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for Tumakuru bandh on August 5, demanding Hemavathi river water to Hebbak and Bugudanahalli lakes, the lifeline of the city.
In a press meet held here on Thursday, BJP district president G B Jyotiganesh said, "The BJP city unit has called for Tumakuru bandh to alert the government which is in deep slumber. The storage at Hemavathi reservoir in Gorur, Hassan district, stands at 16 tmcft.
“The authorities should release water to the district to meet drinking needs. It is unfortunate that the government is not releasing Hemavathi water allocated to the district despite repeated pleas”, he rued.
The water table in the district has gone down considerably. Most of the borewells have dried up. Hemavathi river water is the major source of drinking water for Tumakuru. The government should address the drinking water woes by releasing water to Hebbak and Bugudanahalli lakes," he urged.
The water requirement of Tumakuru city is 5.7 crore litres a day. But now only 1.2 crore litres of water is available from borewells and Maidala lake, he lamented.
On Sogadu protestWhen asked about the hunger strike staged by estranged BJP leader Sogadu Shivanna, the BJP district president played it straight and safe.
"This is people's problem. We have no issues with any agitation from any quarter as long as it benefits the people," he said.
The Hotel Owners' Association, Grain Merchants' Association, APMC Traders' Association, Auto Drivers and Owners' Association, pro-Kannada groups including KRV, Kannada Sene, Bhagat Kranthi Sene, Mayur Yuva Vedike, Jewellers' Association, MG Road Traders' Association, Porters' Association, Vande Mataram Youth Club, Petrol Bunk Owners' Association, Sapthagiri Residents Welfare Association among others have expressed their support to the bandh, the BJP district president said.
BJP leaders Hebbak Ravi, Ramesh, Koppal Nagaraj, Karunaaradhya, Dhaniya Kumar, Bhavikatti Naganna, Rudrappa and others were present.
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