Date:13/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/13/stories/2006061302870200.htm

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Karnataka - Bijapur

They donate blood, ask for water

Staff Correspondent

Farmers hope to move the Government with their unique protest

Government accused of revising Indi Lift Irrigation scheme
Farmers threaten to start relay hunger strike

A delegation to meet Deputy Chief Minister in Bangalore today

WHEN EVERY DROP COUNTS: An agitating farmer donating blood at Thamba in Indi taluk on Monday.

BIJAPUR: Farmers from 25 villages in Indi taluk, who have been agitating for Indi (Guttibasavanna) Lift Irrigation Scheme (ILIS) at Thamba in Indi taluk for the last one week, on Monday sent their blood to the State Government with a slogan "take our blood and give us water".

In all, 27 farmers donated blood that was sent to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa with an appeal that the same could be used for the benefit of poor patients.

Their demand was that the ILIS should be executed as per the original plan under Scheme "A" of Bachawat Tribunal award. The Congress Government, headed by S.M. Krishna, revised the irrigation schemes of the Upper Krishna Project in 2001 and the ILIS was shortened.

According to the original plan, the length of the main canal system was 147 km but it was reduced to 97 km. The rest was planned under Scheme "B" of Bachawat Tribunal Award.

Indi Etha Neeravari Horata Samiti president Malliah Sarangamath, said the Government should understand the feelings of people who donated blood. Instead of shedding blood in violence they decided to donate it.

Relay hunger strike would be started on June 16.

If the Government functionaries did not visit them and give concrete assurance by June 21, fast-unto-death would be launched.

He alleged that water left over from the shortened ILIS was diverted to Mallaburi Lift Irrigation Scheme in Jewargi segment represented by the former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh.

The Mallabari scheme was not in master plan for Krishna waters under Scheme "A". It was planned at the cost of ILIS. Yet, MLAs from the district remained silent, he said.

Meanwhile, Bijapur MLA and Krishna Kanive Raitha Hitharakashana Vedike president Appasaheb Pattanashetti, member Basavaraj Kumbar, and Vithal Katakdonda visited the venue of the dharna and pledged their support to the protesters.

Mr. Pattanashetti said he and the vedike leaders would be meeting Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Water Resources Minister K.S. Ishwarappa, and Small-Scale Industries Minister, Katta Subramanya Naidu (who is the district in-charge Minister) in Bangalore on Tuesday.

District Congress Committee president B.R. Patil Anjutagi supported the agitation.

Canal system of ILIS be extended up to 147 km under "Scheme A" itself, he added.