<p>The proposed project has turned out to be bone of contention between people of Budikote in Bangarpet taluk and Masti hobli in Malur taluk. The sharing of water for farming and drinking purposes has stirred a hornets’ net.<br /><br />Budikote farmers staged a protest against the proposed project on August 3 last year. Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the protesters. The farmers had obtained a stay order against the project which the High Court vacated on August 10. <br /><br />The dispute is however awaiting final disposal and the farmers have already been contemplating to approach the Supreme Court. On the other hand, Sai Sudheer Infrastructures, a Hyderabad-based company has commenced the work on construction of the tank. <br /><br />Controversy<br /><br />Controversy has become a common feature of irrigation projects in the district. The Yaragol project is also embroiled in a dispute between Forest and Revenue Departments over land for construction of the reservoir. <br /><br />It had been five years since the reservoir filled to the brim and such possibility appear bleak.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, Bangarpet legislator M Narayanaswamy said he has explained the unscientific nature of the project and the problems that the command area farmers may face, to the Chief Minister. <br /><br />The Chief Minister had asked the Principal Secretary of Minor Irrigation Department to submit a report in March itself. “I had planned to raise the issue in the Assembly, but it did not materialise due to the ruckus,” he said.<br /><br />Clarifying that he has no qualms on supplying water to Malur, Narayanaswamy said any ‘unscientific sharing of water’ would be detrimental to farmers in command areas.<br /><br />Malur legislator Krishnaiah Setty, during a meeting with district in-charge minister Aravind Limbavali on June 26 had appealed to remove all the obstacles in the way of implementing the project. He had also explained at great length, the acute drinking water scarcity in Malur. <br /><br />The apprehensions of Budikote farmers too need to be factored in while addressing the acute water shortage. It is an irony that amid all the raging dispute, the reservoir is yet to fill to the brim.<br /><br />Saga so far<br /><br />Markandeya reservoir is located in Malur taluk and farmers in command area are of Budikote in Bangarpet taluk. The reservoir was constructed in 343 hectares of land at cost of Rs 4.5 lakh during 1934-40. The command area farmers had paid cess during construction.<br /><br />Attempts were made to supply water from the reservoir to Kolar in 1966. A similar attempt to feed BEML in Kolar Gold Fields was done in 1986. <br /><br />However, both had to be aborted following vehement opposition from the farmers, elected representatives and the people at large. <br /><br />More than 3,000 families in Budikote, Hukkunda, Marandahalli, Ponnenahalli and Seerangabandahalli have been carrying out farming depending on the reservoir water for the past 70 years.<br /><br />Malur legislator S N Krishnaiah Setty submitted a Rs 40-cr proposal to the government in the year 2006 to supply water from the reservoir to 280 villages in Malur taluk. The proposal was approved and construction of backwell is in progress.<br /><br />The farmers in the command area took objection to the project claiming that it would deprive water to as much as 1,500 acres of land. More than 2,000 farmers staged a protest at the reservoir and police resorted to lathi charge on August 3, 2009.<br /><br />Some people approached the High Court through public interest litigation in 2008 questioning the use of water for purposes other than it was meant for. A single judge bench granted stay order. <br /><br />People of Malur appealed against the stay and a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J S Kehar and Justice Manjula Chellur vacated the stay order on August 10.<br /><br />‘We will give life but not water’<br /><br />The elected representatives in Bangarpet taluk are vehemently opposing the project, reports DHNS.<br /><br />“We are ready to give our lives but not water. We have no other source of water except the reservoir. Is it right to snatch the lone facility?” Zilla Panchayat member Ramachandra questioned agitatedly.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, Ramachandra said the reservoir is the lifeline for the taluk and constructed for their welfare. It is patently wrong to say that the purpose would be served if water is supplied for drinking purposes.<br /><br />It was earlier said that water above 20 feet of the sluice will be drawn for water. However, a well has been dug 20 feet below the sluice, for which a 20 feet height wall has been constructed. “Water above and below 20 feet will not be used for drinking purposes. Should we then end our lives without any water source for agriculture?” he questioned.<br /><br />Farmer Byatarayappa said they were dependent on the reservoir to eke out their livelihood. With the water level going down, farming had become difficult. The project would spell doom for the farmers in the command area, Byatarayappa apprehended.<br />The villagers in the vicinity of the reservoir have been facing drinking water scarcity. <br />Under such circumstances supplying water to a distant place amounts to injustice, B M V Ramana opined.<br /><br />The wastage water (water seeping from the crest gates) has been reaching Tamil Nadu after crossing Kanamanalli, 25 kms away. However, no efforts are being made to utilise that water, Thimmarayanayak objected.</p>
<p>The proposed project has turned out to be bone of contention between people of Budikote in Bangarpet taluk and Masti hobli in Malur taluk. The sharing of water for farming and drinking purposes has stirred a hornets’ net.<br /><br />Budikote farmers staged a protest against the proposed project on August 3 last year. Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the protesters. The farmers had obtained a stay order against the project which the High Court vacated on August 10. <br /><br />The dispute is however awaiting final disposal and the farmers have already been contemplating to approach the Supreme Court. On the other hand, Sai Sudheer Infrastructures, a Hyderabad-based company has commenced the work on construction of the tank. <br /><br />Controversy<br /><br />Controversy has become a common feature of irrigation projects in the district. The Yaragol project is also embroiled in a dispute between Forest and Revenue Departments over land for construction of the reservoir. <br /><br />It had been five years since the reservoir filled to the brim and such possibility appear bleak.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, Bangarpet legislator M Narayanaswamy said he has explained the unscientific nature of the project and the problems that the command area farmers may face, to the Chief Minister. <br /><br />The Chief Minister had asked the Principal Secretary of Minor Irrigation Department to submit a report in March itself. “I had planned to raise the issue in the Assembly, but it did not materialise due to the ruckus,” he said.<br /><br />Clarifying that he has no qualms on supplying water to Malur, Narayanaswamy said any ‘unscientific sharing of water’ would be detrimental to farmers in command areas.<br /><br />Malur legislator Krishnaiah Setty, during a meeting with district in-charge minister Aravind Limbavali on June 26 had appealed to remove all the obstacles in the way of implementing the project. He had also explained at great length, the acute drinking water scarcity in Malur. <br /><br />The apprehensions of Budikote farmers too need to be factored in while addressing the acute water shortage. It is an irony that amid all the raging dispute, the reservoir is yet to fill to the brim.<br /><br />Saga so far<br /><br />Markandeya reservoir is located in Malur taluk and farmers in command area are of Budikote in Bangarpet taluk. The reservoir was constructed in 343 hectares of land at cost of Rs 4.5 lakh during 1934-40. The command area farmers had paid cess during construction.<br /><br />Attempts were made to supply water from the reservoir to Kolar in 1966. A similar attempt to feed BEML in Kolar Gold Fields was done in 1986. <br /><br />However, both had to be aborted following vehement opposition from the farmers, elected representatives and the people at large. <br /><br />More than 3,000 families in Budikote, Hukkunda, Marandahalli, Ponnenahalli and Seerangabandahalli have been carrying out farming depending on the reservoir water for the past 70 years.<br /><br />Malur legislator S N Krishnaiah Setty submitted a Rs 40-cr proposal to the government in the year 2006 to supply water from the reservoir to 280 villages in Malur taluk. The proposal was approved and construction of backwell is in progress.<br /><br />The farmers in the command area took objection to the project claiming that it would deprive water to as much as 1,500 acres of land. More than 2,000 farmers staged a protest at the reservoir and police resorted to lathi charge on August 3, 2009.<br /><br />Some people approached the High Court through public interest litigation in 2008 questioning the use of water for purposes other than it was meant for. A single judge bench granted stay order. <br /><br />People of Malur appealed against the stay and a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J S Kehar and Justice Manjula Chellur vacated the stay order on August 10.<br /><br />‘We will give life but not water’<br /><br />The elected representatives in Bangarpet taluk are vehemently opposing the project, reports DHNS.<br /><br />“We are ready to give our lives but not water. We have no other source of water except the reservoir. Is it right to snatch the lone facility?” Zilla Panchayat member Ramachandra questioned agitatedly.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, Ramachandra said the reservoir is the lifeline for the taluk and constructed for their welfare. It is patently wrong to say that the purpose would be served if water is supplied for drinking purposes.<br /><br />It was earlier said that water above 20 feet of the sluice will be drawn for water. However, a well has been dug 20 feet below the sluice, for which a 20 feet height wall has been constructed. “Water above and below 20 feet will not be used for drinking purposes. Should we then end our lives without any water source for agriculture?” he questioned.<br /><br />Farmer Byatarayappa said they were dependent on the reservoir to eke out their livelihood. With the water level going down, farming had become difficult. The project would spell doom for the farmers in the command area, Byatarayappa apprehended.<br />The villagers in the vicinity of the reservoir have been facing drinking water scarcity. <br />Under such circumstances supplying water to a distant place amounts to injustice, B M V Ramana opined.<br /><br />The wastage water (water seeping from the crest gates) has been reaching Tamil Nadu after crossing Kanamanalli, 25 kms away. However, no efforts are being made to utilise that water, Thimmarayanayak objected.</p>
