Farmers urge govt. to clear power dues, activate Tunga Lift Irrigation Project
Members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Monday, urging the State
Members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Monday, urging the State government to clear pending electricity dues and ensure that the Tunga Lift Irrigation Project is made functional. Under the Tunga Lift Irrigation Project, tanks at Haihole, Barehalla and Gowdanakere are filled by lifting water from the Tunga river near Gajanur in Shivamogga taluk.
The project benefits 7,500 acres of agricultural land across 28 villages. However, it has remained defunct as power supply was disconnected due to non-payment of electricity bills. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president H.R. Basavarajappa said the outstanding bill stood at around ₹25.22 crore. He urged the government to clear the dues and ensure that water is lifted from the jackwell near Gajanur.
Sharada Puryanaik, Shivamogga Rural MLA, and others took part in the protest. They submitted a memorandum on the issue to Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti. Elected representatives of Shivamogga district, including Member of Parliament
B.Y. Raghavendra, had raised the issue in June. Given the deficit rainfall this year, farmers and elected representatives want the government to make use of lift irrigation projects to provide water for crops.
The BriefWire