BELAGAVI- A senior Kannada activist, Ashok Chandaragi , strongly opposed the project of the government to supply Hidkal Dam water to the industrial areas of Hubballi- Dharwad.
To raise his concerns, he wrote letters to Satish Jarkiholi, public works minister, Jagadish Shettar, Belagavi MP and Savita Kamble, Belagavi Mayor in this regard.
A protest has been staged by the Karnataka Rajya Sangha in Belagavi on Thursday.
The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) has initiated the process of laying pipelines from the Hidkal Dam to draw water for industrial purposes in the Dharwad – Hubballi twin cities.
At this period of time, many areas in Belagavi and Bagalkot, heavily depend on the Hidkal dam for their water needs, are facing shortage of water. The government’s decision to prioritize dam water to the neighbouring cities over local water needs has drawn widespread opposition from various quarters of the Belagavi community.
The Belagavi district administration and Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) have come under criticism as they are pretending as they are not aware of the development.
Kannada activists in Belagavi have strongly opposed the government project for supplying Hidkal Dam water to industrial areas in Hubballi-Dharwad, by neglecting the needs of the local community.
Ashok Chandaragi, the president of Kannada Sanghatanegala Kriya Samiti, wrote letters to Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Satish Jarkiholi, Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar and Belagavi mayor Savita Kamble, stating that the Huballi Dharwad Corporation decided to install water-lifting machinery near Savadatti.
Ashok Chandaragi objected to the implementation that the resolution was implemented without taking prior permission from the local communities or municipalities in Belagavi District.
They have raised a concern and have strongly objected to the use of water from the Hidkal Dam, which primarily intended for drinking purpose and for the industrial purpose in the region of Hubballi-Dharwad.
Water is being supplied to the Belagavi city and many villages on a daily basis from the Hidkal reservoir. If the project is being implemented, several areas of the district, including Belagavi will face water shortage.
The Belagavi District Minister and the members of Belagavi Lok Sabha, should pressurize on the state government not to implement the project. Belagavi City Corporation should pass a resolution, demanding the project to be stopped immediately.
On Thursday, a protest has been staged by the activists of Karnataka Rajya Sangha in Belagavi with the aim of opposing the water supply from Hidkal Dam to the industrial areas of Hubballi and Dharwad.