Belagavi: Prominent Kannada activist Ashok Chandaragi has strongly criticized the government’s plan to divert Hidkal Dam water to industrial zones in Hubballi-Dharwad. Chandaragi, who heads the Kannada Sanghatanegala Kriya Samiti, has written to Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar, and Mayor Savita Kamble, urging them to oppose the project.
The Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha staged a protest in Belagavi on Thursday against the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), which has begun laying pipelines to draw water from the Hidkal Dam for industrial purposes in the Dharwad-Hubballi twin cities.
At a time when Belagavi and Bagalkot are grappling with water shortages, the move to prioritize industrial needs has sparked widespread criticism. The Hidkal reservoir, a crucial water source for Belagavi city and nearby villages, is already stretched thin. Activists argue that using drinking water for industrial use could exacerbate the crisis, leaving many areas without adequate supply.
Chandaragi objected to the Hubballi Dharwad Corporation’s decision to install water-lifting machinery near Savadatti without consulting local bodies or municipalities in Belagavi district. He urged the Belagavi district administration, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL), and elected representatives to pressure the state government to halt the project immediately.
The Kannada activists also demanded that Belagavi City Corporation pass a resolution opposing the diversion of Hidkal Dam water.
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