<p>Gubbi (Tumakuru district): Members of farmer and pro-Kannada organisations, joined by the workers and leaders of the BJP and the JD(S), on Saturday staged a massive protest at the Hemavathi Link Canal work site at Nitturu in Gubbi taluk, opposing the the project that aims to divert Hemavathi canal water to Ramanagara (Bengaluru South) district.</p>.<p>BJP MLAs B Sureshgowda and G B Jyoti Ganesh and JD(S) legislator M T Krishnappa and several seers also participated in the protest.</p>.<p>The district administration had clamped prohibitory orders in a 10-km radius of the work site. The police had erected barricades on all roads leading to the work site. Unperturbed by prohibitory orders, hundreds of protestors marched into the work site through the agricultural fields. They also blocked Bengaluru-Honnavar highway near Nitturu and Kallipalya. They burnt tyres and raised slogans against the state government.</p>.<p>The agitators alleged that the diversion of Hemavathi water to Magadi and Ramanagara through express link canal will create acute shortage of water in the basin districts, and to Tumakuru in particular.</p>.<p>The agitators relented after the district administration ordered stalling works.</p>.<p>Addressing the protesters, Suresh Gowda said, "The state government should shelve the project which is detrimental to the interests of Tumakuru district. Also, Hemavathi water should be taken to Kunigal through the canal, not pipelines. We will not allow diversion of Hemavathi water to Magadi."</p>.<p>Former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda said that diverting water to Ramanagara would be grave injustice at a time when Tumakuru is facing water scarcity. "D K Shivakumar is not working as the Deputy Chief Minister for this state. He is functioning as Deputy Chief Minister for Ramanagara and Kanakapura," Gowda said. He said that it appears senior ministers K N Rajanna and G Parameshwara have no interest in protecting the citizens of Tumakuru. </p>.<p>Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he had asked Home Minister G Parameshwara, who is in charge of Tumakuru, to resolve the issue. </p>.<p>Parameshwara held a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the water resources minister. </p>.<p>Parameshwara told reporters that the prorest was "nothing but politics".</p>.<p>"The government decided on the canal and approved about Rs 1,000 crore funds and the work. When we attempted to begin the work three months ago, BJP opposed it calling it unscientific. Subsequently a meeting was held under the leadership of Shivakumar where BJP and JD(S) MLAs were present. It was decided in the meeting to form a technical committee and seek their opinion on feasibility before taking a decision," Parameshwara said. </p>.<p>Shivakumar said all MLAs, including Krishnappa and Suresh Gowda, were aware of the facts. "Still, they're protesting," he said. "We will protect everybody's interest," he added.</p>
<p>Gubbi (Tumakuru district): Members of farmer and pro-Kannada organisations, joined by the workers and leaders of the BJP and the JD(S), on Saturday staged a massive protest at the Hemavathi Link Canal work site at Nitturu in Gubbi taluk, opposing the the project that aims to divert Hemavathi canal water to Ramanagara (Bengaluru South) district.</p>.<p>BJP MLAs B Sureshgowda and G B Jyoti Ganesh and JD(S) legislator M T Krishnappa and several seers also participated in the protest.</p>.<p>The district administration had clamped prohibitory orders in a 10-km radius of the work site. The police had erected barricades on all roads leading to the work site. Unperturbed by prohibitory orders, hundreds of protestors marched into the work site through the agricultural fields. They also blocked Bengaluru-Honnavar highway near Nitturu and Kallipalya. They burnt tyres and raised slogans against the state government.</p>.<p>The agitators alleged that the diversion of Hemavathi water to Magadi and Ramanagara through express link canal will create acute shortage of water in the basin districts, and to Tumakuru in particular.</p>.<p>The agitators relented after the district administration ordered stalling works.</p>.<p>Addressing the protesters, Suresh Gowda said, "The state government should shelve the project which is detrimental to the interests of Tumakuru district. Also, Hemavathi water should be taken to Kunigal through the canal, not pipelines. We will not allow diversion of Hemavathi water to Magadi."</p>.<p>Former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda said that diverting water to Ramanagara would be grave injustice at a time when Tumakuru is facing water scarcity. "D K Shivakumar is not working as the Deputy Chief Minister for this state. He is functioning as Deputy Chief Minister for Ramanagara and Kanakapura," Gowda said. He said that it appears senior ministers K N Rajanna and G Parameshwara have no interest in protecting the citizens of Tumakuru. </p>.<p>Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he had asked Home Minister G Parameshwara, who is in charge of Tumakuru, to resolve the issue. </p>.<p>Parameshwara held a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the water resources minister. </p>.<p>Parameshwara told reporters that the prorest was "nothing but politics".</p>.<p>"The government decided on the canal and approved about Rs 1,000 crore funds and the work. When we attempted to begin the work three months ago, BJP opposed it calling it unscientific. Subsequently a meeting was held under the leadership of Shivakumar where BJP and JD(S) MLAs were present. It was decided in the meeting to form a technical committee and seek their opinion on feasibility before taking a decision," Parameshwara said. </p>.<p>Shivakumar said all MLAs, including Krishnappa and Suresh Gowda, were aware of the facts. "Still, they're protesting," he said. "We will protect everybody's interest," he added.</p>
