Karnataka MLA Narayangowda abuses Hemavathy Dam engineer

MYSURU: Karnataka MLA K C Narayangowda today verbally abused and attempted to assault the Hemavathy Dam project's executive engineer[EE] for not releasing water to standing crops.

The Janata Dal([S] MLA for K R Pet was leading a protest by hundreds of farmers in front of the Command Area Development Authority [CADA] office in K R Pet town, seeking irrigation for their crops. During the agitation, Narayanagowda entered executive engineer Narayan's office and told him to ask Prasanna, chief engineer of the Hemavathy Project Zone, Gorur, Hassan, to come to the spot and discuss the issue.

Narayan called Prasanna from his mobile phone but the latter apparently refused to come, stating that he was on leave and disconnected the phone. Angered by this, the MLA hurled abuses and threw away the papers on the EE's table and threatened to set the office on fire. He then tried to drag the official out of the office.

However, police officials intervened and stopped him.

Later, chief engineer Prasanna came to the spot and held discussions with the MLA. Sources said he told the MLA that there was a government order not to release water and he was only obeying it.