Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Jan 3: A protest is being held under the leadership of Udupi District Raita Sangha in front of Varahi Project office at Siddapur here, protesting against the failure of the project to be of any benefit to farmers even after 35 years since it was conceived and works began. District Raita Sangha president and MLC, Pratapchandra Shetty, is spearheading the agitation.
Varahi project was expected to generate hydro electricity apart from irrigating fields in Udupi district. None of these purposes have been fulfilled, and project that is mired in problems, is limping, unable to meet any of the deadlines.
A team comprising chief engineer of the project, Nataraj, and some project officials visited the protesters on Friday January 2, and requested them to withdraw the stir. Pratapchandra Shetty posed some pertinent questions like reasons for inordinate delay in the execution of the project, why water was not released into the canals in spite of commitment made in the presence of irrigation minister to do so before the end of December, 2014, how could the project staff work in favour of contractors in spite of the fact that even after 35 years, works like land acquisition, licence from forest department, and works related to the project were not completed, and sought proper response. He reminded them that already Rs 568 crore has been spent for the project, but not even a drop of water was released for the benefit of farmers. Shetty asked them to provide convincing answers for these questions before he could decide on the suspension of protest.
The officials, who were unable to provide convincing answers to these questions, merely said they had been asked to visit the protesters by their higher ups, and went back without any success.
Taluk panchayat members, Navinchandra Shetty, Pradeep Kkumar Shetty Bidkalkatte, Raju Poojary Byndoor, and Sadananda Shetty Kedoor, Siddapur gram panchayat president, U Sudhakar Shetty, several Raita Sangha office bearers, and others were present.