The decision of the Karnatak government to continue working on the Hemvathi River Link Canal project in the Tumacur district caused a political slugfest, with the opposition accused of the Congress of Dumpering Water to Taluks of Bengalur South District (formerly Ramanagara).
The day after the massive protest of the BJP MLA, farmers and fortune tellers against the start of work on the project near the city of Gubbi in the district of Tumacur, HD Ranganath, Kunigal Mla (Congress), he issued a statement that a legacy channel for providing water and residents of Kunigal Taluk.
Mr. Ranganath, who is also a relative of the Deputy Minister of DK Shivakumara, said Kunigal Taluk has been denied justice over the last 25 years. Now the work has begun under the leadership of Mr. Shivakumar at the estimated Crore 615 GBP costs in the first phase to ensure 3.01 TMCft water into Kunigal. The total water assigned to the district was 24 TMCFT, he said.
Mr. Ranganath remembered the struggle led by former Ministers YK Ramaiah and N. Huchamasty Gowda to bring water from the Hemavathi River to the Tumacur district and said some of Hassan’s leaders refused water to Kunigal.
“BJP and JD leaders are introducing the public. I am ready to continue fighting and sacrifice my life for completing the channel link to bring water to Kunigal Taluk,” said Mr. Ranganath.
BJP expressions channel “unscientific”
B. Suresh Gowda, Tumacura Rural Mla, GB Jyothi Ganesh, Tumacura City Mla and N. Ravikumar, MLC, (All BJP) call the “unscientific” channel.
Mr. Gowda said on Sunday that he would also be ready to sacrifice his life to stop the diversion of the water into Ramanagar. He claimed that the government led by Congress had tried to avert the share of water in the Tumacur district to the Ramanagara area.
“Cauver is a permanent river, while we get water from Hemavathi for only three to four months. I will not try to give Kunigal water,” Gowda said.
Mr. Ravikumar asked the main Minister Siddaramaiaha, Mr. Shivakaumar and the District Minister G. Parameshware to negotiate with the elected representatives of the district to solve the matter.
After Saturday’s protest, the district administration temporarily stopped the work. State Minister Jal Shakti and Railways V. Somann wrote to Mr. Siddaramaiah against the project.
BJP leaders claimed that Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as a Minister of Water Resources, the project at the head.
Meanwhile, HC Balakrishna, Magadi Mla (Congress), said that people Magadi patiently and rightly demand their share of water. The Tumacur district receives water from other sources of the river. “Doesn’t (Mr. Gowda) come to Bengalur? We know what to do if they (Mr. Gowda and Mla for Turuvekere Mt Krishnappa) come to Bengalur,” Mr. Balakrishna warned.
Congress Mla opposed it
However, SR Srinivas, Gubbi Mla of Congress, said he also opposed the Link channel project. “I also against the project and on Saturday I tried to meet Mr Shivakumar, but I couldn’t meet him. I respect people,” the Mla said.
Published – 1 June 2025 20:39 is
