Seers heading several religious institutions, social thinkers and organisations seeking irrigation came together to demand to demand a package for comprehensive development of north Karnataka.
While the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was replying on the north Karnataka issue on the Floor of the Assembly here, seers from several districts of the region, including Sri Murugarajendra Swami of Chitradurga, Sri Nijagunananda Swami of Bailur and Sri Gurusidda Swami of Belagavi staged a symbolic dharna near Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on the ninth day of the 10-day winter session here on Friday.
Leaders of the Valaya Seeme Neeravari Horata Samithi also participated in the dharna at the same venue where senior advocate from Dharwad B.D. Hiremath has been on an indefinite fast in support of similar demands since Monday.
The Samiti pointed out that adequate financial support was needed from the government to wipe out regional imbalance. They specifically demanded the government to create proper infrastructure for irrigation in Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Kolar, Chickaballapur and Jagalur taluk of Davangere district and ensure at least 100 tmc of water under the Bachawat Award’s Scheme ‘B’.
They also demanded the government to provide five tmc of water from the allocations under the ‘B’ scheme to Vanivilas reservoir in Hiriyur taluk from the Bhadra project. A memorandum to this effect was also submitted to the government.
