Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Jan 4: Members of district Krishi Sangha visited Baje dam on Tuesday January 3 and demanded release of water for agriculture.
Ramakrishna Sharma, president of the Sangha appealed to remove the ban on using Baje dam water for farming.
Earlier, deputy commissioner Venkatesh had passed an order on January 1 to stop using Baje water for farming at Manai area. Further, the order was passed without bringing it to the notice of farmers.
Sharma said, “Most of the small scale farmers have planted paddy in 5 to 6 hectare of land. The paddy will be ready for harvest by February or March. The ban on water for agriculture will severely hit poor farmers.”
The committee demanded to form a Swarna water consumers committee to prevent wastage of water.
The district authority has not imposed any restrictions on City Council. The committee fears that the move may provoke farmers to commit suicide.
Chief secretary Shrinivas Bhat Kudi said, “Certain scientific measures need to be taken to prevent leakage of water at Baje and Manai dam. The concerned officials should focus their attention in providing Varahi water, instead of Swarna water alone. Strict actions should be taken for misuse and wastage in the urban area.”
According to the order, the district authority has cut off the water connection for 20 homes and will soon cut off for another 50 houses. The horse power of a pump set is 359, the total number of applied pumpsets to back water is 68. Out of these the right side shore is 27 and left side shore is 41. The installed pumpsets are 22. As many as 11,769 coconut trees, 44,639 arecanut trees, 17,850 banana plants, 180.80 acre of paddy and 6.39 acre of vegetable garden depend on water from the dam.
“Karnataka government has released Rs 14,267 lac for various irrigation projects. But farmers themselves have installed pumpsets taking loans. So what is wrong with this?” asked a member.
The farmers also joined hands in demanding the withdrawal of the ban.