The Hindu : 'Release water into the Bheema'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 09, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

'Release water into the Bheema'

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIJAPUR APRIL 8. As the possibility of the Ujani waters being released by Maharashtra has faded, farmers of the Bheema achkat area appealed to the State Government to release the Krishna waters into the Bheema through the Indi Branch Canal.

In addition to this, Maharashtra, which released two tmcft of water from Ujani Dam on March 24 and 25, has requested Karnataka to release the Krishna waters into the Bheema to tide over scarcity condition in some of its villages on the left bank of the river. Water released by Maharashtra flowed only till Padnur Barrage leaving many downstream villages without water. After water was released from Ujani Dam, the Maharashtra Minister for Dairy Development, Anandrao Devkate, who represents South Solapur Constituency, had said that water flow would be ensured up to Hilli-Gubbewad Barrage, which was the last storage facility of that State across the Bheema. However, his assurance to farmers did not materialise as the water flow receded.

Apart from a few river-belt villages located on Maharashtra side, many Karnataka villages such as Inam-Shirgur, Gubbewad, Agarkhed, Chikkamanur, Hiremannur, Shivur, Sheshgiriwada Buyyara, Nagarahal, Khedagi, and Rodagi continued to be deprived of water, as the riverbed is dry.

Although the drying up of Bheema created panic among farmers, it has become a haven for sand poachers, who have been making brisk business for the last four months. There is a good demand for Bheema sand as it has been graded a high quality input in the builders' market. The riverbed has become virtually a sand quarry.

Meanwhile, the Farmers' Committee for Bheema Water Protection has appealed to the State Government to come to the rescue of farmers in the catchment area.

Confirming Maharashtra's appeal in this regard, the Deputy Commissioner, Rakesh Singh, said his Solapur (Maharashtra) counterpart had requested him to release water into the Indi Branch Canal as was done in February. He said the State Government had to take a decision in this regard.

Moreover, farmers are facing acute shortage of water. If water is released into the Bheema from the Indi Branch Canal at 118th km, it will benefit farmers in a few villages in the State. The Deputy Commissioner has communicated this to the Department of Water Resources.

Sources in the Krishna Jala Bhagya Nigam Limited (KBJNL) said there was "enough'' water in the Alamatti Dam, and some water could be released into the Bheema to overcome the drinking water problem. A formal communication was awaited from the Government, they added.

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