The district unit of the Aam Aadmi Party has demanded the resignation of Major and Medium Irrigation Minister M.B. Patil for not protecting the interests of farmers in the Mahadayi river water dispute case.
AAP leader Ramdas Achar told reporters here recently that the irresponsible attitude and apathy of politicians, both at the State and Centre, were responsible for the present state of affairs. An AAP delegation had visited the Mahadayi and Malaprabha river belts and collected information from experts. Based on this, the delegation had given suggestions to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
It suggested that the State government should form a high-power commission comprising experts on meteorology, geology and environment, and farmer and engineers. The report of this commission should be presented before the tribunal.
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It suggested that the State must neutralize the plans of Goa by quantifying and explaining the damage caused to the environment of Western Ghats and the amount of water that could be provided to thousands of villages in Karnataka.
But these suggestions had fallen on the deaf ears. With the result, the farmers and people of North Karnataka had to suffer for the apathy of the government. The MPs from the State had failed to properly articulate this problem to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Richard Fernandes, Arun Mathais, Sukumar Bangera and Jaikishen, leaders of AAP, were present.
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