Bengaluru: After a hiatus, farmers in Karnataka are preparing to reignite their agitation for the implementation of the Mahadayi river project. This demand, which has persisted for three decades, originates from the northern region of the state. The project’s anticipated outcome is to alleviate the water scarcity prevalent in significant districts of this area.
The recent decision to revive the agitation has been viewed as a boost for the state’s BJP ahead of the forthcoming assembly elections. The announcement, strategically timed a few months before the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls, resonated with the state’s electorate. When initially proclaimed, then-Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai emphasized that this action signified the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP-led government at the national level to foster the state’s progress.
Bommai expressed his contentment, portraying the triumph over a three-decade struggle as a victory for the farmers of north Karnataka. He stated his intent to expedite the tendering process promptly. Basavaraj Bommai also clarified that any concerns pertaining to ecological and inter-state matters had been successfully addressed.
Nevertheless, given the BJP’s electoral setback and opposition from the Goa government to the project’s execution, farmers remain apprehensive about the veracity of past assurances provided by the BJP-led government.
The Central government extended the deadline for the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal’s supplementary report submission to July 2023. Originally mandated to present its findings within three years from its establishment, the tribunal’s timeline has been extended multiple times due to various reasons.
Farmers view the previous BJP government’s pronouncements as “deceptive commitments for electoral gains.” Against this backdrop, farmers in the Dharwad district convened at the Vidyavardhaka Sangha to deliberate on their next steps.
This protest movement had previously been marked by significant unrest in the region. Farmer leaders directed criticism at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his perceived inability to resolve the issue during the BJP’s tenure in both Goa and Karnataka.
With a majority of farmers advocating for a renewed and robust agitation for the project, political analysts predict that this decision will wield a direct influence on the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.