Hans News Service Haveri

Farmersin Haveri district have raised serious concerns over the failure to fill local lakes even after nearly two-and-a-half months of the monsoon, alleging that water available through lift irrigation channels is not being released into the water bodies.

Farmers of Keremattihalli village in Haveri taluk staged a protest on the bed of their village lake, demanding immediate release of water. The protesters raised slogans demanding water and accused officials of ignoring their repeated requests. The district has around 2,058 lakes, and farmers claimed that nearly 90% of them have received little or no water so far. The situation has caused concern among the farming community, particularly in areas dependent on lakes for irrigation and groundwater recharge.

The approximately 100-acre lake at Keremattihalli is among the water bodies that remain largely dry. Farmers from the surrounding areas said the lack of water could seriously affect agricultural operations during the ongoing kharif season.

The farmers said the situation was particularly worrying because the district is already experiencing inadequate rainfall. They alleged that while rainfall has been below normal in several parts of the district, the authorities have also failed to utilise available water resources by diverting water through lift irrigation channels into the lakes.

According to the protesters, they have repeatedly approached officials of the Minor Irrigation Department, seeking water for the lake. However, their requests have allegedly failed to result in any concrete action. Farmers also alleged that they were unable to contact the engineers responsible for the irrigation infrastructure. Despite repeated attempts to reach the officials over the phone, there had been no response, they claimed.

The protesters said the authorities should not wait until the situation worsens before taking action. With a significant portion of the monsoon already over, they fear that continued failure to store water could leave farmers dependent on borewells and other uncertain sources during the later stages of the agricultural season.

The farmers pointed out that filling lakes is important not only for irrigation but also for improving groundwater levels. If the water bodies remain dry, borewells in surrounding agricultural areas could also be affected, increasing the burden on farmers. The protestors demanded that the government immediately assess the availability of water in the lift irrigation system and release water to eligible lakes wherever technically feasible.

They also urged the Minor Irrigation Department to inspect the channels and identify whether any technical problems were preventing the flow of water. Any damaged or blocked sections should be repaired without delay, they said.

Farmers warned that continued official inaction could lead to serious consequences for agriculture in the district. They demanded a clear plan for filling the lakes and better coordination between irrigation officials and local farmers. The protesters said the government should treat the issue as an urgent water-management problem rather than waiting for farmers to approach officials repeatedly.

They also urged elected representatives and district authorities to intervene and ensure that water reaches the lakes before the remaining monsoon period ends. For farmers in Keremattihalli and surrounding villages, the issue is not limited to the immediate agricultural season. They said adequate storage in the lake would help maintain groundwater levels and support farming and drinking-water needs in the months ahead.

The farmers have therefore demanded immediate release of water through the lift irrigation canal and a comprehensive assessment of all major lakes in the district to prevent a possible water crisis.