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Udupi : The Udupi district Krishika Sangha ® staged a protest against the decision of Udupi district administration and MESCOm to disconnect power connection at the Baje dam, near Hiriyadka on Friday, February 22.

Addressing to protesters’ Ramakrishna Sharma Bantakal, President of Udupi district Krishika Sangha said that our organization is working for the benefit of the farmers without affiliating with any political parties. We are trying to attract farmers to go back once again for agriculture of land and when it is needed the association will fight for their farmers’ rights in a legislative manner.

He said that from 1974 water is being supplied to the Udupi city by constructing a dam at Baje across Swarna River. When the authorities feel that there will be shortage of drinking water in the city, the authorities immediately stop electric power to pumps for the use of agriculture. The farmers depend on agriculture since ancient times for their survival. The farmers are facing the fear of losing their crop due to the scorching heat.

He said that in this area around 950 farmers and 450 agriculture laborers are working directly and indirectly in 650 acres of land. This consists of more than 15000 coconut trees in 300 acres and 20000 plants of banana on 50 acres, vegetables on 10 acres and paddy on 200 acres of area. The cost of production is around Rs 12 crore and farmers have loan of around Rs 2.36 crore. If the authorities not provide sufficient water for farmers, then they are going to lose their hard-grown crop, said Sharma.

The district administration though restricted the use of water for agriculture due to supply of drinking water to the city which was growing, we did not face any issues so far. Depending upon the availability of water and water level, water was being released twice in a week in the months of March and April and once in a week in the month of May. The district administration had taken this step under our leadership. But, now an electrical energy generation company has come up by the side of the dam. The height of the dam is increased from 4.7 meters to 6 meters by the district administration in order to help the company. As this company does not open the gates of the dam during the rainy season around 60 acres of agricultural land remains submerged in water for continuously for two months. For the same reason, the natural flow of the water is obstructed, which has resulted in the formation of huge crater on one side of the dam, Sharma said.

Sharma said that the total capacity of the 68 electrical pumps of the agriculturists is around 359 HP. But, owing to various reasons, all the pumps are not in operation. The pumps will not be in continuous operation excepting the necessary two to four times in a week. According to the officials, the water consumed by the agriculturists is more than that of the city dwellers. So they are restricting the flow of water for only agriculture. But if the agricultural land that is on the river basin is kept moist, then the water that gets evaporated during summer will reduced and the farmers and agriculture also will service.

He said that even though there were several appeals to the concerned officials since 22 days, there is no improvement in the situation. Herewith we request the officials to consider this issue seriously and protect the farmers and agriculture from the irresponsible officers. We request you to pass an order to the district administration to provide water for agriculture twice in a week in the months of March and April and once in a week in the month of May.