The rally started from Bolamanjeshwara temple premises and reached DC office via IG Road and MG Road.
The protesters shouted out slogans against MLA M P Kumaraswamy and said that the government should provide adequate water supply to the cultivated fields and water for the animals.
Raitha Sangha District Working President K K Krishnegowda, General Secretary Gurushanthappa among others addressing the gathering urged the government to take note of the serious water shortage prevailing in the region and start II phase of the said lift irrigation project.
The farmers of Malaloor, Kallahalli, Siragapura, Kambihalli, Bigganahalli, Biggadevanahalli, Bikkemane, Kadrimidri, Thagaduru and Haadihalli villages have lost their crops due to scarcity of water.
The protesters said that a lift irrigation project intending to irrigating 1,500 acre from Biranjihalli in Mathikere village was planned. This plan got administrative approval in 1998 and the project was started in 2000.
The total cost of the project was estimated at Rs 2.52 crore then and accordingly Rs 50 lakh was released. The protesters in a memorandum to the DC said that the project has been abandoned half way after completing jackwell, intake well, pump house etc.
“The II phase of the pipeline work and canal works have not been started,” said one of the protesters adding that the project which came under minor irrigation department has now been handed over to Cauvery Irrigation Board. The project was re-surveyed in 2010 and a fresh plan of Rs 7.85 crore has been prepared.
They said that since the project will help ten villages in the region, it must be started at the earliest. They warned of staging a protest outside the residence of Mudigere MLA if
the works are not started within 15 days.
Raitha Sangha District President Vinayak Maloor Dinne, Hasiru Sene District President Shashidhar among others were present.
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