The Mallabad Lift Irrigation Horata Samiti has warned of a massive farmers’ protest in Jewargi on June 9 if authorities fail to immediately convene a meeting to address compensation issues and ensure transparency in the implementation of the Mallabad Lift Irrigation Project.

Addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi city on Sunday (May 31), samiti members Mahesh Kumar Rathod and Babu Patel welcomed the commencement of the long-pending project works but alleged that contractors were proceeding with the project without adequately addressing the concerns of affected farmers.

They stated that despite several obstacles, the samiti has been continuously working to ensure that the project progresses without interruption while also safeguarding the interests of affected farmers.

Mr. Rathod alleged that some contractors are taking advantage of the farmers’ goodwill and concern for the project by carrying out works in violation of land acquisition and compensation laws. They blamed the lack of coordination and intervention by the tahsildars of Jewargi and Yadrami taluks and called for an urgent meeting involving government officials, contractors, representatives of the samiti, and affected farmers.

They said farmers are entitled to fair compensation, rehabilitation, and other benefits under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and the Karnataka Amendment Act, 2019. Compensation should cover land acquisition, crop losses, trees, wells, borewells and other assets affected by the project, they said.

The activists urged the government to hold an immediate meeting involving officials, contractors and affected farmers to clarify compensation and rehabilitation measures. They also noted that courts have consistently held that land cannot be acquired without payment of compensation as prescribed under law. If the authorities failed to address their demands, the samiti would launch an agitation in Jewargi town on June 9, they warned.