BIJAPUR: Farmers launched an indefinite fast at Horthi hobli in Indi taluk of Bijapur district on Sunday seeking implementation of the Rs. 200-crore project aimed at filling around 100 minor irrigation tanks in the district by pumping water from the Krishna and its tributary Bhima.

Farmers, who gathered under the banner of "Kere Tumbuva Yojane Horata Samiti", held a procession on the main streets of the hobli before launching the indefinite fast.

Former zilla panchayat member from Horthi, Annappa Kainur, who is leading the agitation, said the protest would continue till the Government conceded their demand. He said even after completion of irrigation projects proposed under Scheme B of Bachawat Tribunal award, large tracts of arid land could not get water. The tank-filling project could be of great help to many areas in rain-deficient zone.

He said most of the area proposed under the project was once famous for horticultural crops. However, continued drought ruined most of the fruit gardens.

Samiti convener Basavaraj Kumbar said the Minister for Major Industries, Katta Subramanya Naidu, forwarded the project to Water Resources Ministry for consideration when he was the district in-charge Minister.

The present district in-charge Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, who held the Water Resources portfolio, was also interested in the project. If farmers and public representatives together brought pressure on the Government, it might give its approval to the project, he said.

V.P. Huggi from the Department of Civil Engineering of BLDE Association's Pa. Gu. Halakatti College of Engineering, who prepared the plan at the behest of Tikota MLA, M.B. Patil, explained the details of the eight sub-packages in the project.

He said the project, which had been submitted to Government through the Department of Minor Irrigation, if implemented, could change the hydrological map of the district.

Besides, the project would solve the drinking water problem, he said.

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