Thousands of people in Kolar and Chickballapur district participated in picketing of government offices demanding implementation of a permanent irrigation project to resolve the perennial water shortage in the region.
Responding to the call given by the Shashwatha Neeravari Horata Samiti, students, farmers, and lecturers joined the protest at the taluk offices and the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kolar.
Students from various educational institutions in Kolar town formed major part of the stir. The protesters took out a procession from the Inspection Bunglow to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. They displayed placards calling upon people’s representatives to end their silence on the water issue of the region.
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The protesters also registered opposition to the Koramangala – Challaghatta Valley project which intends to supply treated water from Koramangala – Challaghatta Valley to tanks in Kolar district. The leaders of the agitation claimed that treated water from the sewage would harm the health of people and cattle, and was not good for crops as well.
A permanent irrigation project based on the G.S. Paramashivaiah report should be implemented, the protesters urged.
Receiving a memorandum, Deputy Commissioner K.V. Thrilokchandra said the government was exploring all avenues to find a sustainable solution to the water shortage of the region.
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Detained
In Chintamani, about 300 agitators, including Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha leader C. Gopinath, were detained by police while picketing the taluk office. They were later released.
Horata Samiti leaders M.G. Prabhakar, Gandhinagar Narayanaswamy, V. Geetha, S. Amaresh, M. Vijayakakrishna, T.M. Venkatesh, and Gangamma, and writer S. Raghunath participated.