Farmers launch desilting festival at Tungabhadra reservoir

Criticising the government’s indifferent attitude towards silt in Tungabhadra reservoir, Maheshwara Swamiji of Nandipura said that the large volume of silt accumulated in the Tungabhadra reservoir is likely to create serious problems in the coming years. If the governments continue to remain indifferent, a large-scale ‘Silt Festival’ (Hoolina Jatre) would be organised as early as next February, he added.

Speaking at the ‘Silt Festival’ organised by the Ballari Raitha Sangha in the Tungabhadra backwaters near Gunda botanical garden on Tuesday, the seer said the farmers themselves would be compelled to undertake desilting efforts if the government failed to remove the accumulated silt.

Recalling the month-long desilting campaign held in 2017, the seer said that next year thousands of tractors from Hagaribommanahalli, Huvina Hadagali and Harapanahalli would be mobilised to support large-scale silt removal operations.

Kotturuswamy Math seer Basavalinga Swamiji inaugurated the Silt Festival by performing Ganga Puja. He criticised the governments for their neglect of water-related issues.

In his introductory remarks, Ballari Raitha Sangha president Darur Purushottama Gouda said the organisation plans to bring nearly 10,000 tractors for next year’s Silt Festival.

He added that the campaign would be intensified to compel governments to address the reservoir’s siltation problem.

“A similar desilting campaign was conducted in 2017 for a month to draw the attention of the government. Then, the government had promised to build a balancing reservoir at Navali, hence had turned down desilting. But even after nine years, there is no sign of new balancing reservoir.

Hence, to draw the attention of the three state governments and also that of Central government, we are conducting a month-long desilting drive,” said Ballari Raitha Sangha president Darur Purushotham Gouda. 

Prabhu Mahaswamiji of Garag, Siddalinga Mahaswamiji of Somasamudra; Kotturu Deshikendra Swamiji of Sridharagadde and others were present.