Why There Is A Bandh In Davangere Today?

While Bengaluru will witness a bandh on Tuesday over Cauvery row, Davangere district will remain shut down on Monday, demanding release of water to paddy farmers from the Bhadra Dam.

The Bharatiya Farmers' Union has called for a bandh in Davangere, demanding the release of water from the reservoir. Thousands of farmers will gather at Jayadeva Circle and hold a protest meeting, after which they will move on the main roads of the city by bike.

Many organizations including Chamber of Commerce, Broker Owners Association, Wage Workers Association, Private Bus Owners Association, Private Educational Institutions, Auto Owners Association, Sterilizer, Fertilizer District Association, Aam Aadmi Party and Karnataka Defense Forum have expressed their support for the bandh.

Even the local BJP leaders have extended support to the bandh.

Bharatiya Farmers' Union leader Basavarajappa said, "7 TMC of drinking water, 2.5 TMC of drinking water, 12.44 TMC water is required for farming."

The farmers of Davangere and Shivamogga are at loggerheads over the release of water from from Bhadra reservoir at Lakkavalli in Chikkamagaluru district for irrigation.

The paddy growers from Davangere are advocating for ample water release, while the areca growers from Shivamogga are urging the government to halt the water release to safeguard their gardens. Over the past few days, farmers in both districts have been organizing protests to assert their specific demands.

The water of this reservoir is the lifeline of the farmers on both sides.

The Left Bank Canal (LBC), extending for 80 kilometers, channels water to cultivate paddy, sugarcane, areca gardens, and semi-arid crops across 6,367 hectares in Tarikere and Bhadravati taluks. In a parallel manner, the Right Bank Canal (RBC), covering a distance of 268 kilometers, supplies water to Davangere district. Most of the beneficiaries of the RBC are paddy growers.

In August, the dam authorities commenced the release of water from the RBC to support the paddy growers. Due to the lack of rainfall, the areca growers in Shivamogga grew concerned that their areca gardens might face challenges in the upcoming summer if sufficient water was not retained in the dam. To protect their interest, they started a protest in front of the BRP office on September 1, urging the convening of an Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC) to halt the water release.

On September 6, an ICC gathering took place, presided over by Madhu Bangarappa, Minister for School Education and the Minister in charge of Shivamogga. During the meeting, it was decided to implement an 'on and off' water release system, allowing for intermittent releases with brief intervals. However, notable absentees at the meeting, held at the Bhadra Command Area Development Authority's office near Shivamogga, were the elected representatives from Davanagere district.

On the other hand, the farmers in Davangere started protests claiming that their paddy fields would get dry if water was stopped.

However, the water release was stopped on September 16.