Students of degree colleges coming under the Varahi Irrigation Project area will boycott classes and go on a strike, in favour of the agitating farmers at Siddapura in Udupi district, on January 8.
The farmers have been on an indefinite relay ‘dharna’ over the delay in implementation of Varahi Irrigation Project at Siddapura since January 1.
Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Shravan Shetty, student leader, said that nearly 500 students were expected to participate in the strike, which was purely voluntary. The students of the villages coming under the project area, who were studying at Bhandarkars’ College and B.B. Hegde College in Kundapur, Government First Grade Colleges in Shankarnarayana and Koteshwara, Sharada College in Basrur and National College in Barkur, would participate in the strike. “We will join the farmers in their ‘dharna’ in Siddapura on January 8,” he said.
Mr. Shetty said that the Varahi Irrigation Project and the Brahmavar Cooperative Sugar Factory were launched in 1979. The objective of the Varahi Irrigation Project was to provide irrigation facilities to farmers in 33 villages in Kundapur taluk and 35 villages in Udupi taluk so that they would grow sugarcane for the sugar factory.
The factory began its operations in 1985 and also shut down amidst mounting losses in 2004. But the Varahi Irrigation Project was progressing at a snail’s pace. After 35 years, only 40 per cent of the work had been done. The project, which was launched at an estimated cost of Rs. 9.43 crore, saw cost escalation with each passing year. Already an amount of Rs. 589 crore had been spent on it. “But not a single drop of water has flown in either its Right Bank or Left Bank Canal,” he said.
Many farmers, who had given up their lands for the irrigation project, had not received proper compensation. This had put a lot of farmers into hardship. “Many of us – students – were not even born when the project was launched. Still there is no sign of it getting completed. It will take at least four years for the project to be completed,” he said.
As many as 14 Chief Ministers had come and gone during the last 35 years. But none had shown any interest in expediting the project. “The project has become a dumping ground for the government to transfer engineers facing corruption charges,” he said.
The State government should take steps to complete the project within a limited timeframe. Since a lot of irregularities were involved in the project, there should be a thorough probe. Legal action should be taken against corrupt officials and guilty contractors should be blacklisted.
Proper compensation should be given to those whose lands had been acquired for the project. A Watchdog Committee should be appointed to review the progress of the project every month and ensure transparency. An efficient IAS officer should be appointed to supervise the project, Mr. Shetty said.
Chethan, Sanath, Sachin, student leaders, were present.
