Govt ignoring distress in Tungabhadra command area, says BJP; demands ₹25,000 per acre compensation

Accusing the State government of neglecting the agrarian crisis in North Karnataka, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra on Friday said the Congress administration had failed to address the urgent concerns of farmers dependent on the Tungabhadra command area.

Addressing presspersons at the party’s State office here, he said the BJP would launch a series of district- and taluk-level protests demanding immediate measures to support maize growers and farmers awaiting water release for the second crop.

Mr Vijayendra said the party would press the government to open procurement centres without delay. He reiterated that if water could not be released for the second crop, the government should provide compensation of ₹25,000 per acre to all affected farmers.

Crest gates

Recalling the long-pending installation of 32 new crest gates for the Tungabhadra dam, he said the work had not progressed despite earlier assurances by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar that Karnataka would take up the project independently. He also sought urgent funds for repairs of the left and right bank canals to prevent water loss due to seepage.

The BJP had decided to finalise its agitation plans by November 26, and the party’s raitha morcha president A.S. Patil Nadahalli would tour the affected districts to draw up the schedule, he said.

Alleging repeated lapses in handling crop loss, Mr. Vijayendra said the government had neither responded to sustained protests by sugarcane growers nor addressed the problems of maize farmers.

He criticised the Congress government for restricting its focus to Bengaluru and failing to deliver compensation weeks after announcing relief.