JOIN USDesilting of Chitravathi comes to a halt
Efforts to desilt the Chitravathi Barrage by the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewarage Board, with the help of contractors, has come to a sudden standstill.
The work had been approved by Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa and other local legislators.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mohammad Akram, president of the Chitravathi Horata Samithi said that in order to get the desilting project going, members had resorted to a 16-day running protest.
This finally led the Board and district administration to make assurances that the Chitravathi barrage and the surrounding areas would be cleaned as soon as possible. “The protests were shelved after this promise was made. Now things have gone back to the way they were,” Akram said.
Samithi members warned of intense protests if desilting work is not resumed in the coming days.
Vice president of the Samithi, Govardhanachari, said that when local legislators are questioned about the large amount of silt-buildup in the area, instead of offering solutions, they offer excuses.
“If the barrage is cleaned, water can be provided to over 128 villages in Bagepalli and Gudibande taluks,” Govardhanachari said and also blamed excessive political interference for the barrage project being stalled.