Belagavi is grappling with severe flooding caused by Ballari Nala, which has submerged over a thousand acres of land and damaged standing crops due to relentless rainfall. The desilting and removal of encroachments from Ballari Nala have been unresolved for nearly two decades, despite multiple surveys and proposed action plans.
The recurring floods have inflicted significant losses on farmers, who face damage to their crops each year. This year’s flooding has reached critical areas, including KLE Hospital and roads like Yallur, Yarmal, and Dhamne. Farmers are demanding immediate action to address the issue and seek compensation for their crop losses.
Farmer leaders Narayan Savant and Vinod Chougule met with District Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Saturday to discuss the escalating problem. They also raised concerns about how the construction of the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway-4 might be contributing to the flooding. Minister Jarkiholi has promised a special meeting within a week at the DC office and has instructed officials to include representatives from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in the discussions.
Ballari Nala stretches approximately 58 km from Yellur village to its confluence with the Markandeya River near Karaguppi, passing through industrial, populated, and agricultural areas in Belagavi, Gokak, and Hukkeri taluks. Its tributary, Lendi Nala, flows through 5 km within Belagavi City Corporation limits.
