Protesting farmers make an attempt to lay siege to rehabilitation office in Bagalkot

UKP Affected Farmers Association demands completion of Krishna basin projects and fair compensation, staging protest in Bagalkot.

Members of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP) Affected Farmers Association made an attempt to lay a siege to the office of the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Commissioner in Bagalkot on Thursday, demanding expeditious completion of the Krishna basin projects and better relief.

On the third day of the protest by the association, members took out a padayatra to the office and tried to block it from outside. Policemen on duty did not allow them to close down the office.

DCC Bank Chairman and honorary president of the committee Ajaykumar Saranaik, who addressed the protestors, said that the amount of compensation fixed by the government is unfair and non-remunerative.

He also said that some officers are signing files to release compensation for land to be acquired in future.

MLA Siddu Savadi complained that the State government is partial to the Cauvery basin projects.

“Successive governments have given us a step-motherly treatment. We should protest against this. We should ensure that UKP works are completed in time,” he said.

He said that he will protest during the winter session of the Assembly against the delay in completing Krishna basin projects. The State government promised ₹40,000 crore for the third phase of the UKP.