Fight for water: two-day march ends as farmers reach Hassan

They demand lift irrigation facilities, drinking water supply

The march was led by former MLA C.S. Putte Gowda.— Photo: Prakash Hassan

Farmers, demanding early completion of lift-irrigation projects and proper drinking water supply in Channarayapatna taluk, took out a two-day protest march from Channarayaptna to Hassan. The march which began on Monday, ended today as the protesters reached Hassan.

Former MLA and Congress leader C.S. Putte Gowda led the march. On the first day, the protesters halted near Hema Gangothri and resumed their march Tuesday morning and reached Hassan by 11 am. They staged a dharna at Dairy Circle before reaching the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Water shortage

Mr. Putte Gowda, addressing the protesters, said people of the taluk had been deprived of drinking water facilities. They were facing drinking water shortage even before the onset of summer. As lift irrigation projects in Hirisave, Kachenahalli, Nuggehalli, remained incomplete years after the work started, farmers were not getting irrigation facility, he said. Further, he said that people in the taluk were not getting sand for construction activities.

Despite repeated demands to clear problems in sand distribution, the district administration had failed to set things right, he alleged. Deputy Commissioner Umesh H. Kusugal received the memorandum from the protesters.