Hubballi: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's move to cancel his visit to Gadag district has irked farmers who are reeling under severe drought conditions and a drinking water scarcity. They have expressed their resentment against his decision to attend the marriage programme of the son of Maski Congress legislator instead of hearing the grievances of drought-hit people.
His tour on Sunday was confined only to meeting Congress leaders and attending the marriage before taking part in the valedictory function of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar birth anniversary in Vijayapura in the evening.
The CM was scheduled to visit Gadag to attend another marriage programme of a leader belonging to his community after touring drought-hit Raichur district. The administration had made arrangements for the landing of his helicopter at the office of the deputy commissioner. People condemned his move to cancel the visit as they are getting drinking water supply once in month. The situation has worsened in rural parts of Gadag district as people have to walk miles to fetch drinking water or else depend on high fluoride content water. Meanwhile, the agitators of the Kalasa Banduri project have expressed anger against the Chief Minister for not resolving the Mahadayi water dispute. “All political leaders are touring the drought-hit region just for namesake without trying to resolve Mahadayi water dispute though the project is the lifeline of farmers. The district-in-charge ministers and officials have not visited rural areas which are facing acute drinking water scarcity. The Chief Minister's tour is confined only to attending marriages and other programmes instead of resolving the problems of farmers,” Kalasa Banduri Horati Samiti president Vijay Kulkarni said.
