Yadgir bandh evokes good response

Yadgir bandh called by various organisations under the leadership of former Minister Narasimha Naik (Rajugouda) evoked a good response across the Yadgir district headquarters, as well as in Shorapur and Hunsagi taluks, on Friday.

​The agitation was staged to demand the uninterrupted release of water from the Basavasagar reservoir through the Narayanpur Left and Right Bank Canals until the end of November to protect standing crops, including paddy, green chili, and cotton.

​Commercial establishments, markets, and shops voluntarily shut down operations until 3 p.m. in solidarity with the farmers. However, public transport remained largely unaffected. ​Hundreds of farmers gathered near the Tahsildar’s office in Yadgir before marching to the Subhash Chandra Bose Circle, where they staged a demonstration for several hours.

​Addressing the rally, Mr. Naik alleged that despite sufficient water storage in the reservoir, discharges were being routed overnight to neighboring Telangana while local agricultural requirements were overlooked. Rebutting district in-charge Minister Sharan Prakash Patil’s denial of the allegations, Mr.

Naik claimed that local farmers possessed video evidence documenting the inter-State water transfer. ​He appealed to Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil to allocate at least 14 tmcft of water to Yadgir district to save standing crops, highlighting that 28 tmcft of water had already been reserved for drinking purposes in Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts.

​Mr. Naik also urged Superintendent of Police Pruthvik Shankar to withdraw cases registered against farmers during previous agitations, offering to have himself booked first instead. He warned that the agitation would be intensified if Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigama Limited enforces its proposed Warabandhi shutdown starting November 12.

​The protest garnered support from multiple farmer associations, pro-Kannada outfits, Dalit organisations, and the local Advocates’ Association. ​A formal memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister was submitted through Deputy Commissioner Rahul Pandve, who assured the protesters that their demands and grievances would be forwarded to higher authorities promptly.

​Basavaraj Veebhutihalli, Rachanagouda Mudnal, Mahesh Reddy Mudnal, Devendra Nath Nad, Lalita Anapur, Mareppa Chattarkar, Mareppa Naik, Bheemu Naik and others were present at the demonstration.