Udupi: Should villagers sacrifice for city people

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 25 April 2012: For the sake of the happiness of the people of city, inevitably the people of this village have to sacrifice their happiness. They can either oppose this or go through the difficulties, because it is the instruction from the Deputy commissioner! This is the sad story of Baje Grama of Udupi Taluk. In order to supply the drinking water to the people of Udupi City which is 10 – 20 miles away, these villagers are prohibited from using the water from Swarna river which is flowing there.

 
Since the last 50 years the water from this Swarna river collected using the dam at Baje Grama and is purified and supplied to the people of Udupi Municipal area. Earlier the Municipal area was smaller, population was less and also there was sufficient water in the river. Now for the expanded Municipal area and increased population, a 2nd phase has been started to supply water. As the usage is more, the water level goes down in summer.

 

 
During summer naturally the people from either side of the river were taking the river water using diesel pumps for their agricultural work from many years. This is their right too, because for the river water they do not need anybody’s permission. But now due to shortage of water to Municipal areas, Deputy Commissioner has prohibited the villagers from the upper side of Baje dam from taking the water using pumps and also have warned that if they violate, legal action will be taken.

 
This is the first time they are receiving instructions against using the water from the river of their own Grama. But the people’s representatives who received votes from these villagers, have never turned this side. With this unusual instruction more than 80 agricultural families are helpless. In one side the instruction from the D.C. and the fear of the law. In other side the banana, coconut, areca nut plantation is drying up before their own eyes and even though there is water in the river with their own pumps installed they are unable to water their plantation.

 
After the dam was built in Baje Grama the farmers from the down side have stopped cultivating paddy due to shortage of water. Since the last 5 – 6 years the farmers of the upper side also have stopped cultivating paddy, instead they have planted banana, coconut, areca nut plantation. Now it is season for the flowering of areca nuts and the watering is very much essential. If not watered the whole plantation will get destroyed. But the Officers in the air-conditioned chamber cannot understand the pain, loses and difficulties of the farmers.

 
Having no other option these farmers are now prepared for the protest. But before that they have submitted a petition to the Deputy commissioner. Now, what Deputy commissioner will do on the prohibition of using the water, will have to be waited and seen.

 
K. Balu Nayak, a farmer says that, we never say not to supply water to the people of Udupi. But we have been using the water even before the dam was built. We never use this water for any commercial purposes, instead we use it for our agriculture – animals on which we depend on. We do not want to cause problem to the people of Udupi, so we should be allowed to pump the water at least two times a week, he said.

 
Kudi Shrinivasa Bhar, leader of Agricultural Association says that, if the water is stored by building dam the water will get evaporated. But if the river water is flown into the nearby fields and farms, most of the water get drained and again gets back into the river. With this recycle system the water level will remain constant and will never get reduced, this is the scientific truth, the Officers must understand this, he said.