Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Apr 11: “The purpose of Varahi irrigation project is to supply water to farmers. Water should reach the eligible farmers. It should reach the villages as planned in the project. It is not right to test the patience of farmers,” said Udupi district Raitha Sangha president K Pratapchandra Shetty. He was addressing farmers of Varahi irrigation project block at Venkateshwara Kalyana Mantapa, Japthi.

“Farmers had resorted to sit in protest in 2015. The project is not completed yet. We know technical issues, finance, engineer, land acquisition and other problems. Everybody has an eye on the project. Provide water to villages that are mentioned in the project first before supplying to other places,” he said.

“The farmers who vacated land for the project should stress on the project first without thinking about the compensation. Let us get water first. We can receive the compensation later. As many as 41 years have passed since the beginning of the Varahi project. Let us proceed in the proper direction at least after this,” he said to the officials.

“Discussions on the Varahi Baladande project are in progress. Farmers are eager to hold meetings regarding Shankernarayana, Amparu and Halnadu villages. The response of Varahi officials also is good,” he said.

The farmers urged to provide water near the block near Jannadi. As there is a lake at Molahalli village, farmers asked to supply water to it. A woman said that banks do not lend loans on the portion of land beside Varahi canal without transfer of ownership. She was assured of a no objection letter from the Varahi department. There were suggestions to construct a straight canal instead of it in a zigzag shape.

Udupi district Raitha Sangha spokesperson Vikas Hegde, Udupi district Raitha Sangha zonal head Kedoor Sadananda Shetty, Krishnaraj Shetty, Boja Kulal Hebri, Sathish Kini, Malyadi Sivarama Shetty, Hariprasad Shetty Kanmakki, Herianna Chatrabettu, Manesh Hegde Molahalli, Raviraj Shetty Asodu, B Arun Kumar Hegde, Ganesh Shetty Hombadi Mandadi, Molahalli gram panchayat vice president Chandrashekar Shetty, Srinivas Shetty Korgi, Kalavara gram panchayat vice president Ramachandra Navada and others were present.

Varahi irrigation project executive engineer, assistant engineer and various department officials gave details. Udupi district Raitha Sangha Beejadi, Haladi and Mandarthi zone farmers took part. Udupi district Raitha Sangha chief secretary Santhosh Kumar Shetty Baladi rendered vote of thanks.