The Hindu : Karnataka News : Bagur-Navile farmers yet to get relief

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Tuesday, Jul 20, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Others

Bagur-Navile farmers yet to get relief

By Our Staff Correspondent

BAGUR-NAVILE, (HASSAN DT.) JULY 19 The lives of the farmers affected by the Bagur-Navile Tunnel has not changed even after six years.

The tunnel, considered to be the second largest in Asia, was constructed to irrigate land in Tumkur and Mandya districts.

The farmers of the area submitted a memorandum to C.S. Putte Gowda, Channarayapatna MLA, during a village committee meeting held recently. Responding to the memorandum, Mr. Putte Gowda said that he take steps to solve their problems.

The Congress, which was then the Opposition party, promised justice for the farmers, and the Janata Dal, which let lose "brutal police force" on the farmers on July 19, 1998 for demanding compensation, is now part of the coalition Government.

The police crushed the 94-day agitation by farmers of 12 villages surrounding Bagur in Channarayapatna of Hassan district in 1998.

The National Human Rights Commission criticised it and the issue was even discussed in the Rajya Sabha.

Compensation was given to those who suffered police brutality and Congress Government withdrew cases against the farmers.

The claim for compensation of Rs. 26 crore as assessed by the departments of Irrigation and Horticulture is still pending with the Government. Though the Government had promised the farmers of irrigating 10,000 acres through Bagur and Navile Lift Irrigation Schemes, only 3000 acres is being irrigated, according to sources in the Irrigation Department.

The work on the Kallesomanahalli Lift Irrigation Scheme has been stopped owing to lack of funds and the Obalapura Lift Irrigation Scheme has not commenced yet.

The 9.76-km-long and 5.4-metre-wide tunnel runs between Bagur and Navile from A.G. Ramachandra Rao Canal of the Hemavathi Reservoir Project and enters Tumkur and Mandya districts, irrigating three lakh acres in the region.

The project was mooted during the rule of D. Devaraj Urs. The irrigation expert Balekundri opposed it for its adverse effects.

Mr. Urs had also expressed his apprehensions during the foundation-laying ceremony of the groundwater level being depleted.

Work on the tunnel went for nearly 15 years and, by 1991, the adverse effects became visible.

The tunnel has affected fertile land in Obalapura, Kallesomanahalli, Tagadur, Lakkarasanahalli, Rangapura and Kamanayakanahalli.

The tunnel has lowered the water-table and many coconut plantations along the length of the tunnel have dried up.

The people of the region, who have been dependent on agriculture for generations, are now forced to look for employment.

The farmers launched their agitation after the Government failed to compensate them according to the assessment of the Horticulture and Irrigation departments.

"The Congress leaders who once promised to fight for our cause have conveniently forgotten the issue after coming to power," said Shankaralinge Gowda of Honnenahalli.

Kesari Harvoo, a national award-winning director, who is researching the issue to make a film, said that more than the injustice meted out, the failure of the agitation and the police atrocity disturbed the affected people.

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