Mahadayi row: Pro-farmer organization sets June 30 as deadline for Centre

Dharwad: The pro-farmer organisations which took part in state bandh on Monday have set June 30 as deadline for the Centre to convene a meeting of chief ministers of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa to solve the vexed Kalasa Banduri nala project.

The organisations Kalasa Banduri Horata Samiti, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene among others have warned of intensifying the protest on par with the agitations in Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and other regions, if the government did not respond to their appeal.

The leaders of these organisations have asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to initiate the process to solve the issue amicably by meeting his counterparts in Goa and Maharashtra.

Addressing protesters at Jubilee Circle on PB Road in Dharwad, they said North Karnataka was facing real drought and the agri investment of farmers had gone with the winds.

The only solution to overcome drought is to link rivers Mahadayi with Malaprabha so that irrigational facilities in this part of the region gets boosted.

Moreover, this would also solve the drinking water crisis which is faced by over 20 lakh people, the protesters said.

Basavaraj Devaru of Mansur said the government should not give any scope for the farmers to intensify their protest.

Farmer leader Gangadhar Patilkulkarni condemned the firing incident in Madhya Pradesh. KRV (Swabhimaana Bana) District President Papu Dhare also spoke.

Prior to this, a protest rally was held in city. Later, a human chain was formed near Kalabhavan and tyres were burnt in anguish against politicians.