Farmers stage protest seeking release of water into NLBC to save standing crops

Farmers protest for water release from Basavasagar Reservoir to save crops, condemning State's decision to discharge water to Telangana.

A large number of farmers staged a protest outside the office of the Chief Engineer of Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam Limited (KBJNL) at Bheemarayanagudi in Shahapur taluk demanding release of water from Basavasagar Reservoir into Narayanpur Left Branch Canal (NLBC) to save standing crops.

During the protest by farmers and BJP workers led by the former MLA Narasimha Naik (Rajugouda), the State government’s decision to discharge water to Telangana from the reservoir was strongly condemned.

Addressing the protestors, Mr. Naik said that farmers in the district are in need of water to save standing crops such as groundnut, sunflower, bajra and paddy planted under the irrigation network.

“KBJNL officers stopped releasing water to canals on March 25. Farmers who spent thousands of rupees starting from sowing to the present stage (seedling establishment) are in shock, with an apprehension of losing their crops. The irony is that the State government has discharged water to Telangana despite the rising demand for release of water for standing crops here,” he said.

Mr. Naik urged the State government to take immediate steps and release water till April 15 to protect crops that are in a crucial stage.

This is the second protest for water in a week.

As part of their protest, they blocked the Shahapur-Kalaburagi Main Road for some time and later, submitted a memorandum to the authorities.