Protest by Hemavati reservoir victims
Hassan: The farmers of Aluru Arakala Gudu staged a protest in front of the District Collector’s office today, under the leadership of the Hemavati Dam Victims’ Struggle Committee, insisting that the victims of the Hemavati reservoir inundation should be repaired and given land.
Speaking on this occasion, S. Krishna, President of the Struggle Committee, said that land has been sanctioned in forest and other places of Aluru taluk in order to rehabilitate the victims who lost their houses and land due to Hemavati Dam. In the seventies, the land was allotted and only a cultivation certificate was issued.
We have not been given the repair vehicle and account yet. They are making a living by cultivating the land allotted to the drowned people.
But, because the land is not wasted, they are not able to get any benefits from the government,” he alleged.
We have appealed to the concerned department many times about our problem but to no avail. On December 17th, during the District Collector’s meeting held at Basaveshpur village towards the village, the victims insisted that the District Collector, MLAs, Tehsildars and DDLR be explained in detail about this issue. Officials also agreed to the plea of the victims. But he complained that the officials are irresponsible as they have not yet responded and the record has been lost.
They have been protesting for the rights of Hemavati Reservoir drowning victims on behalf of the Hemavati Reservoir Victims Struggle Committee for the past many years to no avail; Recently, the victims also protested in front of the Tehsildar’s office in Alur and Arakalagudu, but there was no adequate response.
The eligible people who are doing agriculture on the land already given to the victims by the government have suffered greatly due to non-use. The district administration has failed to take necessary action even though there is a directive from the government to stop wasting.
Therefore, he appealed to the District Collector to respond to our request as soon as possible and survey the lands of hundreds of farmers and take action.
Manje Gowda, Manjunath Dutta, Ganesh, Krishna Gowda, and Nagesh Mallesh Manjesh participated in the protest.
