Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld News Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jan 3: Dakshina Kannada district Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha and Hasiru Sene staged a protest near the deputy commissioner's office here on Tuesday January 3 against the state government's ban on digging borewells.

Addressing protesters, Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha district president Ravi Kiran Punacha said, “Dark clouds loom large on farmers after the state government announced its decision to ban digging borewells. Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district is facing deficit rainfall this year in comparison to earlier years which has led to acute shortage of water. Over the years, Dakshina Kannada district had received over 1,800 mm rainfall, but this time it is very less.”

“Dakshina Kannada district has no proper irrigation projects as several farmers are dependent on borewells for the purpose of irrigation. Arecanut is one of the major crops cultivated in Dakshina Kannada which is widely spread over 60,000 hectares. During summer, nearly 1,600 litres and 2,400 litres of water for arecanut and cococunt trees are required respectively,” he informed.

He urged the government to withdraw the ban on digging borewells and to take up major irrigation projects by constructing check dams in the district. He further said that the groundwater table needs to be increased.

District vice president of Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha Tharnath Gowda, secretary Suresh Bhat, Prashanth Shetty, Ibrahim and others were present.