Karnataka farmers divert Tungabhadra water

Kurnool: Once again the Karnataka farmers illegally and forcibly diverted the Tungabhadra water to their fields on Saturday evening at 79 th milestone near Siriguppa, near Bellary. About 200 cusecs of water out of a total flow of 550 cusecs was diverted at this point by breaking the single sluice gate. About 300 farmers, led by Siriguppa legislator MS Somalingappa, were participated in this illegal theft of shared water.

It may be recalled that last year on August 20 Karnataka farmers from Moka village diverted water to their crop fields illegally and two months ago at Marlamadika village, near Holagunda, farmers from both sides fought each other resulting in injuries to a few. The scuffle over sharing of Tungabhadra water between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka is a major problem.

Officials of the irrigation department of Kurnool district informed Kurnool MP and Minister for Railways Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy, who was on tour in Koutalam and Kosigi mandals on Saturday inaugurating a few developmental works. Immediately he spoke to the Collector of Bellary district to stop such illegal water diversion. He also made a complaint with the Central Water Commission to take stringent action against the Karnakata government and legislator Somalingappa, who mobilised hundreds of farmers in diverting the water.

Later speaking to media persons in Mantralayam, Kotla said that about 550 cusecs of water released to the lower canal from Tungabhadra was diverted by Somalingappa with the support of about 300 farmers. Kurnool has to receive about 850 cusecs from the low level canal for drinking purpose. Kotla warned the Karnataka government that if it did not respond positively and arrest such illegal activities he would initiate retaliatory action with the support of farmers from the district.