Daijiworld Media Network – Byndoor
Byndoor, May 16: A massive protest was held on Friday by members of the Shri Gudedevasthana Lift Irrigation Project Victim Farmers’ Federation – comprising farmers from Heranjalu, Halageri, and Noojadi – demanding disciplinary action against officials who allegedly altered the Rs 72 crore Gudedevasthana Lift Irrigation Project in a manner that has inconvenienced farmers in the Halageri command area. The protesters also demanded the relocation of the jackwell to make the project farmer-friendly.
During the protest, titled Chalo Byndoor, farmers marched with empty water pots, wore black bands, and expressed their anger by blowing conch shells. The rally concluded in front of the Taluk Administration Office, where farmers and residents from five villages assembled in large numbers.
Officials criticized, alms collected as symbolic protest
The agitated protesters condemned the small irrigation department officials and engineers, accusing them of failing to prevent unscientific project implementation. They demanded the immediate suspension of these officials. As a mark of protest, the demonstrators collected alms using begging bowls and handed the money over to officials through the tahsildar.
Addressing the gathering, farmer leader S Prakashchandra Shetty highlighted numerous flaws in the Rs 72 crore lift irrigation project being implemented by the Small Irrigation Department. He alleged that the jackwell point was unscientifically shifted inside the Halageri vented dam area, bringing hardship to farmers. He demanded the suspension of the responsible engineers and a thorough investigation.
He further warned that the construction of a 3-km-long embankment to raise water levels and store water would severely damage second crops such as groundnut, watermelon, and arecanut plantations in the command area.
Project lacks approvals and transparency
Shetty stated that the dam falls under the CRZ zone and has not received proper approvals. The land acquisition process is also flawed. Despite being a Rs 72 crore project already underway, there is no signage installed, and shockingly, farmers are still unaware of who officially sanctioned the project.
Government schemes meant to benefit farmers are being mismanaged by negligent officers, he added. According to him, the real beneficiaries of this project are not farmers, but a few elected representatives. In the past three years, embankments worth Rs 18 crore were constructed along Edamavin Hole, and Rs 56 crore was spent on a similar project in Subbaradi, which has now resulted in saltwater intrusion. Yet no action has been taken against those responsible, he said.
He also lamented that during a farmers’ meeting on the same project held in February, an assault occurred in the presence of Small Irrigation Department officials, and no elected representative spoke up about it.
Udupi District Farmers' Union extends support
Uday Kumar Shetty, Wandse zonal president of the Udupi District Farmers’ Union, said the union has been fighting for farmers' rights for the past 12 years. He expressed disappointment over the lack of responsiveness from officials, saying that ambitious government schemes become ineffective due to officers' carelessness and irresponsibility. He pledged full support from the union to the farmers’ ongoing protest.
Others present included Deepak Kumar Shetty (president of the Farmers’ Union and Byndoor BJP Mandal president), Jayanti N Ithal Heranjalu (president of the Project Victim Farmers’ Federation), Sharath Kumar Shetty (president of the Trasi Zonal Farmers’ Union), Mohan Poojary (Guarantee Committee), Subrahmanya Bijoor, Raghavendra Heranjalu, and Ved Byndoor.
Children also performed a street play highlighting the failures of the project. A formal memorandum was submitted to the chief minister through tahsildar Bhimsen Kulkarni.