Hubballi: Mahadayi farmers plan Soudha siege

Hubballi: Mahadayi farmers warned on Tuesday that they would step up their agitation and lay siege to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha if the state government made no commitment on the Kalasa Banduri project before the winter session of the legislature begins in Belagavi on December 10.

Speaking to reporters, convener of the Kalasa Banduri Raitha Vakkuta,  Amruth Ijare regretted the state government was taking no initiative on  the project although the Mahadayi tribunal had allocated 13.5 tmc of water to Karnataka several months ago. "Nothing has been done to speed up the project although five months have passed since the tribunal gave its award. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Water Resources Minister, D K Shivakumar should appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to publish a notification in the gazette to allow early implementation of the project. We will step up our agitation if the government fails to find a proper solution before December 10," he said also urging all legislators from North Karnataka to raise the issue during the legislature session.

 "Minister Shivakumar had promised to start the Kalasa Banduri project within a month when he  visited its site in Kanakumbi village a while ago. But nothing has come of it. We will lay a siege to Suvarna Soudha if the government does not set a deadline to start the project," he threatened.