Davanagere: Condemning the water diversion of Bhadra Right Bank Canal to Chikkamagaluru and Chitradurga districts, farmers of Davanagere district blocked Pune-Bengaluru National Highway-48 at Baad Cross for about half an hour on Wednesday.Addressing protesters, former minister MP Renukacharya said the govt is diverting water from the canal, which has a level below 5 feet, to provide drinking water to a neighbouring district. “It is installing bigger pipes and creating water scarcity for farmers of Bhadra catchment area in Davanagere district,” he added.Protesters raised slogans like “Bhadra water our right”, “stop unscientific works” and also against the state govt, chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar, demanding to stop the work. When police tried to stop the agitation, there was a heated argument between protesters and police. Irked by this, protesters sat on the highway, blocking vehicle movement.Renukacharya said Congress govt is misusing police to suppress farmers’ agitation. Former MLA Basavaraj Naik, BJP district president N Rajashekhar, farmer leaders Kolenahalli BM, BJP functionaries Lokikere Nagaraj, Dhananjay Kadlebalu and others were present at the protest.
