Poor response for irrigation campaign

It was planned to take a march from College Circle to the residences of elected representatives and extend them the invitation to plunge into the struggle.

 According to Thyagaraj of the Action Committee several councillors were informed over phone to take part in the campaign. However, majority of them cited “urgent work” for their inability to take part in the programme. The elected representatives of Zilla and Taluk Panchayats were also requested to take part in the campaign. However, only a handful of people were present, and hence the programme had to be deferred, Thyagaraj said.

Thyagaraj has also alleged that the Forest Department did not furnish information on steps taken to obtain details from Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board over the forest land required for implementation of Yaragol project.

On the other hand, members of various organisations staged a hunger protest at the Bagepalli bus stand demanding permanent irrigation project for Chikkaballapur district.
Hunger protest

Addressing the protesters, Kannada Sahitya Parishat president B R Krishna apprehended that the district may turn into a total arid region in the absence of a irrigation facility. Satellite surveys have already identified the area as parched long ago. Plants which grow in arid conditions are already surfacing in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts its an alarm bell for the bleak future. The government should spring into action and take immediate steps for irrigation, he exhorted.

Kannada Rakshana Vedike district general secretary G Chandrashekhar said the ruling dispensation was not aware of the gravity of the situation. Groundwater table has already hit the nadir and high flouride content in the water has been causing deleterious effect on children. The district would become a desert if the situation is allowed to continue, he apprehended.

Taluk unit president Harish, Democratic Youth Federation of India district president Channarayappa, Guluru Babu of Bhagat Singh Youths Association and others took part in the protest.