Farmers block national highway demanding withdrawal of Warabandhi scheme

Farmers on Saturday blocked the Bidar-Srirangapatna National Highway at Devapur Cross in Shorapur taluk of Yadgir district as they took part in a protest against the Warabandhi scheme. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT



A large number of farmers led by former minister Narasimha Naik (Raju Gowda) staged a protest at Devapur Cross in Shorapur taluk on Saturday and blocked the Bidar-Srirangapatna National Highway (NH-150A) demanding withdrawal of Warabandhi (rotary water supply) system and release of water from Basiravasagar reservoirs by the end of November.

Traffic was interrupted on the busy highway. However, the police diverted the vehicles via alternative routes. Devapur Cross is a key junction connecting Kalaburagi to Bengaluru and Shorapur to Vijayapura.

The protesters alleged that the state government decided to stop water release from October 25 to November 2 and again during the following rotation schedules to enforce Warabandhi, despite sufficient storage in the reservoir.

Mr. Naik pointed out in the gathering that the district is already reeling under severe drought, with commercial crops like cotton facing extensive damage due to prolonged drought and lack of rainfall since the onset of monsoon. However, farmers who rely on irrigation from Narayanpur’s left and right bank canals were growing paddy, groundnut, sunflower and chilli and were expecting steady supply of water, he said.

He criticized the decision taken during the Irrigation Advisory Committee (ICC) meeting held in Bengaluru on October 15 to enforce rotation restrictions. “The decision is unscientific. If Warabandhi is strictly implemented, the crops will dry up instantly, causing irreparable loss to farmers,” Mr. Naik warned, urging the government to release water by the end of November and threatening to intensify the agitation if their demands were not met.

Activists alleged that water from the reservoir was being released into neighboring Telangana, while local legislators who attended the ICC meeting failed to protect the interests of the district’s farming community.

The demonstration was supported by pro-Kannada outfits and various local farmers’ associations. Elaborate security measures have been taken by the police to prevent any untoward incident. Police Inspector Pruthvik Shankar visited the site and supervised the security personnel during the demonstration.

The agitators later submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister through Deputy Commissioner Rahul Pandve and Mr. Shankar.

Religious leader Channamallikarjun Swami along with local leaders Venu Madhav Naik, Suresh Sajjan, Sanganna, Bhimu Naik, Mallu Dandin and Sharanu and others were present.

Published – 24 Oct 2026 19:21 IST