Latest news with #HemavatiLinkCanal
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Whole Tumakuru district participated in the agitation": BJP MLA B Suresh Gowda on protest against Hemavati Link Canal project
Tumakuru (Karnataka) [India], June 1 (ANI): BJP MLA B Suresh Gowda on Sunday said the people of Tumakuru district strongly protested against the Hemavati Linking Canal project. Thousands of farmers in Karnataka held a large protest on Saturday near Gubbi town in Tumakuru district, opposing the start of work on the Hemavathi River Link Canal Project. He said that the message was sent to the government to stop the project immediately. Gowda said that the district officials said that a temporary halt will be put. Gowda warned that the project could harm Tumakuru's development and water supply. Speaking to ANI, B Suresh Gowda said, 'We have given a call that the Hemavati Linking Canal project must be stopped, and whole Tumakuru district participated in the agitation... It went well. We sent a message to the government to stop immediately. District Commissioner and SP intervened and said that a temporary halt will be put... We explained to them what issues this project will cause... G Parmeshwara wants to make Greater Tumakuru... In this process, Tumakuru will not develop, since it also has an increased need for drinking water like Bengaluru. Therefore I request the stoppage of this project... We are willing to sacrifice our lives for the struggle...' Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Saturday that the protest against the Hemavati Link Canal project is a political protest. He said 40 per cent of the work is already done, and the project will not be stopped as it will help farmers. He also accused BJP leaders of trying to create problems. Speaking to the mediapersons about the protest against the project, DK Shivakumar said, 'That is all a political protest. Nothing is there within the water. We have sorted it out. I have discussed with them. We have a technical report. Everything is over. Already, 40 per cent of the work is over. There is no question of stopping any work. We will continue with it. It will help every farmer in the area... BJP leaders always do that. They are known for creating problems.' (ANI)
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"A political protest': Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar on protest against Hemavati Link Canal project
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India] May 31 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Saturday that the protest against the Hemavati Link Canal project is a political protest. He said 40 per cent of the work is already done, and the project will not be stopped as it will help farmers. He also accused BJP leaders of trying to create problems. Thousands of farmers in Karnataka held a large protest on Saturday near Gubbi town in Tumakuru district, opposing the start of work on the Hemavathi River Link Canal Project. Speaking to the mediapersons about the protest against the project, DK Shivakumar said, 'That is all a political protest. Nothing is there within the water. We have sorted it out. I have discussed with them. We have a technical report. Everything is over. Already, 40 per cent of the work is over. There is no question of stopping any work. We will continue with it. It will help every farmer in the area... BJP leaders always do that. They are known for creating problems.' He further added that the Karnataka government will not tolerate hate speech or misinformation. 'Karnataka government does not tolerate hate speeches or misinformation. The law will take its course. We have instructed all the DCs to identify in every district and take all the information and file cases immediately. We want to keep the districts in coastal Karnataka very peaceful and business-oriented. We are working out a strategy for the unemployment problem that has been created there. A team from our party will also assess the situation,' Shivakumar said. Earlier on Friday, as heavy rains lashed parts of Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has assured citizens that the government is fully prepared to address any emergencies. Speaking to the media on Friday, Shivakumar outlined the proactive measures being taken by the state to manage the situation and told the media that all deputy commissioners have been asked to take the required action, and state ministers will be at their headquarters to look over the situation. 'We have called all the deputy commissioners and asked them to take action. For emergency cases, we have authorised all the deputy commissioners and the officers to be alert. After the meeting, all the Ministers must be in their headquarters and help the people because we can't avoid nature...,' he said. (ANI)
United News of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Farmers protest Hemavati Link canal, DKS terms it politically motivated
Bengaluru, May 31 (UNI) Farmers in Karnataka's Tumakuru district launched a fierce protest on Saturday against the Hemavati Link Canal project, voicing concerns over water diversion from their area, its environmental impact and lack of consultation. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar dismissed the agitation as politically motivated and assured that the project would continue. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "This is just a political protest. There's nothing in it that can't be resolved. I've already held discussions with the concerned parties. We have a technical report in hand, and nearly 40 per cent of the work is already completed. There is no question of stopping the project." The protest turned tense as demonstrators set tyres ablaze and blocked the national highway between Bengaluru and Shivamogga, disrupting traffic and prompting police intervention. The protesters, including local farmers, members of the BJP and JD(S), and farmer organisations, accused the Congress-led government of pushing ahead with the project without addressing legitimate concerns of the local agrarian community. Farmers fear that diverting water from the Hemavathi River to benefit Magadi and Ramanagara districts will significantly reduce water availability for Tumakuru, thereby threatening irrigation and agricultural productivity in the region. "There was no proper consultation with us. This project is being imposed on us without considering its adverse effects on our livelihoods," said one of the protesting farmers. Apart from water concerns, activists and opposition leaders have called the project "unscientific," raising questions about its technical feasibility and possible environmental repercussions. Leaders from the BJP and JD(S) have joined the protests, accusing the government of bypassing democratic procedures and ignoring ground realities. Shivakumar further insisted that the canal is intended to benefit farmers across multiple regions and would not be halted under political pressure. "The BJP is known for creating problems. This is no different," he added. The protests caused significant disruptions on the highway, leading to traffic snarls and a police crackdown. Several demonstrators were detained as the authorities moved to restore order. Meanwhile, the state government has expressed willingness to engage in discussions with farmers to address their concerns. As the situation remains tense, officials are monitoring developments closely to prevent further escalation. UNI BDN RN
