Seeking drought declaration, Samyukta Horata Karnataka calls for ‘Kalaburagi Bandh’ on August 17
Demanding that the State government immediately declare Kalaburagi district and the entire Kalyana Karnataka region drought-hit and implement comprehensive relief measures for farmers and rural
Demanding that the State government immediately declare Kalaburagi district and the entire Kalyana Karnataka region drought-hit and implement comprehensive relief measures for farmers and rural communities affected by the prolonged dry spell, members of the Samyukta Horata Karnataka announced a ‘Kalaburagi Bandh’ on August 17. Addressing a joint press conference in Kalaburagi city on Sunday (July 26), Sharanabasappa Mamshetty, Bhimashankar Madiyal and R.G. Shetgar said the Kalaburagi bandh would be backed by the Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha, Karnataka Sugarcane Growers’ Association, All India Kisan Sabha, Karnataka Pranth Raitha Sangha and several other farmers’ organisations. Shetgar said the drought had devastated agriculture, depleted groundwater, dried up standing crops and triggered an acute drinking water crisis across the district.
The lack of rural employment had forced many villagers to migrate to urban areas in search of livelihoods. He demanded distribution of free seeds and fertilisers for the upcoming rabi season, drought compensation of ₹50,000 per acre for all affected farmers, including sugarcane growers, and immediate settlement of pending crop insurance claims. Mamshetty demanded the removal of the requirement for loan certification from nationalised banks to process crop insurance claims, alleging that the rule was preventing many farmers from receiving their insurance benefits. He also urged nationalised banks to extend repayment periods for agricultural loans and called for a complete farm loan waiver.
He also demanded compensation and support for the families of farmers who ended their lives due to debt and crop losses. Mamshetty accused the State government of failing to secure Karnataka’s share of 15 tmcft of water from Maharashtra’s Ujani reservoir, resulting in the Bhima river running dry and affecting irrigation and drinking water. He urged the Centre to intervene and resolve the issue. To address the worsening water and livestock crisis, the Samyukta Horata Karnataka members sought immediate drinking water supply to drought-hit villages, opening of cattle camps with adequate fodder, and release of pending widow, old-age and disability pension payments.
They also urged the government to undertake cloud-seeding operations, saying farmers had been unable to take up kharif sowing and that rain-fed crops, including green gram and black gram, had suffered extensive damage. Madiyal said that the August 17 ‘Kalaburagi bandh’ would be a united protest against the delay in declaring drought and implementing relief measures, warning that the agitation would be intensified if the government failed to respond.
The BriefWire