BELAGAVI
Continuing their protests against the implementation of the controversial Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion projects, activists and farmers from Belagavi and Khanapur talukas on Friday staged a rally to the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Belagavi.
Cutting across politics, religion, language and other barriers, a group comprising over 100 protestors also submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan, urging the government to stop the diversion of the Mhadei.
“The Mhadei River Diversion will cause irreversible damage through deforestation and fragmentation in the designated Eco-Sensitive Area of the Western Ghats, especially the Mhadei and Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuaries. The rains will be affected, causing severe water shortage in the Mhadei-Malaprabha catchment area, also adversely affecting the livelihood of the people of the region. Hence, we demand that the government should withdraw the Kalsa-Bhandura project immediately,” the memorandum stated.
The protestors also demanded that the work of manufacturing pipes undertaken by irrigation authorities near Nersa village should be stopped.
“Manufacturing of pipes and other materials required for the diversion of the Bhandura nulla should be stopped immediately. The notices given for land acquisition to farmers in Asoga, Nersa, Manturga, Rumewadi, Karambal villages under the Kalsa-Bhandura project should be withdrawn immediately,” the protestors demanded.
Farmers from Nersa and other neighbouring villages who have been served notices for the implementation of the Bhandura water diversion project were also
present.
The protestors also presented the possible legal aspects, stating that they would be approaching the court in this regard to get justice.
Deputy Commissioner Roshan, who accepted the memorandum, also had a discussion about the repercussions of the Mhadei water diversions and has asked them to get details of the technical and legal aspects. He has convened a meeting of the farmers and environmentalists at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on April 15.
Later, speaking to media persons, Capt. Nitin Dhond, who is spearheading the agitation, said an all-out campaign is being launched to ensure that the Karnataka government cancels the implementation of the Kalsa-Bhandura projects.
Environmentalists Shivaji Kaganikar, Sujith Mulgund, Dilip Kamat, Nagendra Prabhu, Shivlila Misale, Nyla Coelho, along with the farmers, were present at the protests.
