KRV to protest against water diversion from Hidkal to Dharwad
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda) members have threatened to organise a mass protest against the diversion of Ghataprabha river water from Hidkal dam to the industrial area in Dharwad in Belagavi on Friday.
Our activists will lay siege to the Deputy Commissioner's office in Belagavi on Friday, Deepak Gudaganatti, KRV(N) district president, told reporters in Belagavi on Thursday.
He said that the State government's decision to divert Hidkal dam waters to Dharwad was an unjust move. It snatches away much needed water from the farms of Belagavi to the industrial area in far away Dharwad. 'Does the State government know what is the priority for our society- is it food or industrial production? The Hidkal dam was built primarily for irrigation. Why should we spare precious water to industrial area?' he questioned.
'The State government has argued that creating pro-industrial infrastructure is its responsibility. Our question to the State government is why not allow establishment of industries in Belagavi district itself? Why carry water from Belagavi all the way to Dharwad? The tax payer is made to pay for the 125 km pipeline from Hidkal to Dharwad that is being laid at the cost of ₹350 crore. This is meaningless,' he said.
'A few months ago, officials stopped the work of laying a pipeline from Hidkal to Dharwad after farmers' associations and Kannada organisations opposed it. We were all part of the `Our Water Our Right' agitation. But it has started again as the State government has allowed it. Already, the twin cities of Hubballi Dharwad are getting water from the Renuka Sagar dam on the Malaprabha. They are drawing nearly six tmc ft. of water from the dam whose impounding capacity is around 37 tmc ft. Any move to draw additional water will be strongly resisted,' Mr. Gudaganatti said.
'Belagavi city gets drinking water supply from Hidkal. During summer months, the people of Belagavi suffer water scarcity. Drinking water is also being supplied to the people of Bagalkot from the Hidkal reservoir. I call upon the people of Bagalkot to protest against this diversion,' he said.
He suspected that a powerful politician from Belagavi was behind the State government's decision to divert water to Dharwad. He alleged that the some political leaders had obtained a clearance for the project without bringing it to the notice of the Irrigation Consultative Committee of the dam in Belagavi, which is headed by local legislators.
Meanwhile, Ashok Chandargi, convenor of the central committee of Kannada organisations wrote a letter to the Chief Minister expressing its opposition to the plan. He has warned of a district wide protest against the drawing of Hidkal waters towards Dharwad.
Suresh Gavanavar, State convenor, said that they would take up a legal battle against the State government if it goes ahead with the project. 'We will also fight on the streets,' he said.
He demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah intervene in the matter and suspend the water pipeline work.
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