Demolish protection wall at Mahadayi: Forum

Dharwad: Members of Mahadayigagi Mahavedike, who have been staging various protests for the last five years, have given an ultimatum to the state government and the Centre to demolish the protection wall at Mahadayi and facilitate flow of water into Karnataka.
Mahavedike state convener Shankar Ambali said on Friday that the government should remove the wall within 15 days failing which, the Vedike will garner support of the public and demolish it.

“Even after the tribunal directing to use 7.5 tmc feet of water, the state government has not initiated steps to get its share of water. There was no allocation of funds for the Mahadayi project in the budget announced by chief minister Kumarswamy,” he rued.

Ambali alleged that all political parties want to keep the Mahadayi issue alive to use it as an election plank and said that they should not stoop to such a low level and betray farmers.

“It is high time the state government comes up with a constructive thought for expediting the project. If not the Mahadayi agitators will collect money from the public and donate it to the government to implement the project,” he said.

There is every possibility of the Tribunal withdrawing its verdict if the state government fails to draw its share of water. To avoid this, the government should immediately take up the project, he urged.