'Give priority to drinking water'

‘Officials have failed in conserving lakes’

Rajya Raitha Sangha President Kodihalli Chandrashekhar has accused the Revenue and Irrigation Department officials of failing in water management in the taluk by not following necessary guidelines to conserve and use water from the lakes.

He was addressing the protesters at Save Devanakere protest jointly staged by villagers of B Kodihalli, Jodithimmapura and Hullehalli in front of Kadur taluk office on Monday.

He regretted the situation in the society, where farmers, women and youth are selling their votes for money and liquor. Despite Kadur taluk having been declared as drought-prone taluk, the officers did not take any measures to preserve water for people and cattle.

Lakes in the taluk too have not been rejuvenated. The district administration, taluk administration and minor irrigation department have failed in their duty and its impact is borne by farmers, he complained.

The areca growers in Devanakere limits have illegally destroyed vents and flown water to areca plantation, thus leading to water scarcity for the people residing in the lake limits.

He warned of intensifying the protest if the authorities fail to give first priority to drinking water if there is abundant water in the lake and prepare a guideline for its usage. 

Tahsildar Thimmabovi accepted memorandum from the farmers and said that a report was already submitted to the deputy commissioner on damaging the vent and an action will be taken soon after Tarikere assistant commissioner and minor irrigation officers convene a meeting and submit a technical report.Hundreds of farmers came with their bullock carts to the protest venue.