MUNAVALLI (BELAGAVI):With prolonged drought and water sources fast drying up, farmers in parched areas of Belagavi district have resorted to ‘stealing’ water. Many farmers have lowered pipes along canals of the Naviluteertha Dam (Malaprahba reservoir) at Munavalli town in the distirct.
The right bank canal of Malaprabha dam has gone completely dry, but at one place, due to tunnelling, there is water available in small quantity. This water is pumped out by government agencies for running a Forest Department nursery and providing drinking water to a school.
However, in the last one week, at least 30 new pipes have been lowered by farmers without seeking any permission from the dam authorities. Some of these pipes run about 500 metres.
The right bank canal leads to Naragund in Gadag district, which has been in the news for farmers’ agitations demanding water from Kalsa-Banduri project. As the project is being delayed, farmers are getting restless and have now resorted to pumping out water illegally.
In 2016, as the number of illegal pumpsets kept increasing along Ghataprabha and Malaprabha canals, the district administration had taken measures to reduce water theft. Six such illegal pumpsets were seized to warn farmers, but in vain. Irrigation officials do not bother to stop the farmers who pump out water illegally, fearing consequences. Most of these farmers are often backed by political parties or local leaders, they say.
“It is a delicate issue. The situation is the same everywhere and one cannot blame farmers for trying to save their crops. As far as the right bank canal is concerned, there is no water left. The tunnel, at one point, has some water which collects due to seepage. The water being drawn by farmers is not from the dam,” said a district official.
“This year, we are anticipating more cases of illegal pumping as water levels have gone down in most of the reservoirs. The water available in Malaprabha dam is being used for drinking purpose, and it may last till the end of June. Whenever the water is released through the canals, these pumpsets appear. If there is water left in these canals, the power company is asked to shut down electricity to avoid illegal pumping. However, now farmers have gone a step ahead and have been drawing water using diesel-run pumpsets,” the official said.
The next few weeks are crucial for both the administration and farmers as water levels are receding fast. The Krishna river is going dry in many parts. Cities like Hubballi-Dharwad and surrounding towns and villages are completely dependent on Malaprabha reservoir for their drinking water needs.
“We will increase vigil during May as the water earmarked for drinking cannot be used for other purposes. Consent of political leaders from the region will be sought to ensure that farmers do not take law into their hands, but we will wait for monsoon to set in,” the official added.