Tue Apr 01 16:20:52 UTC 2025: ## Farmers Protest Water Diversion in Karnataka
**Yadgir, Karnataka – April 1, 2025** – Hundreds of farmers, joined by BJP workers, staged a protest in Yadgir on Tuesday, demanding the release of water from the Basavasagar Reservoir to save their parched crops. The demonstration, led by former MLA Narasimha Naik (Rajugouda), targeted the Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam Limited (KBJNL) Chief Engineer’s office in Bheemarayanagudi.
Farmers claim that the KBJNL halted water release to canals on March 25th, jeopardizing their groundnut, sunflower, bajra, and paddy crops. Their anger is fueled by the state government’s decision to divert water to Telangana, despite the urgent need for irrigation within the district. Naik criticized this decision, stating that farmers facing potential crop failure after investing significant sums are deeply distressed.
The protest involved a temporary blockade of the Shahapur-Kalaburagi Main Road, followed by the submission of a memorandum to authorities. Naik urged immediate intervention, requesting water release until April 15th to safeguard the crops currently in a critical growth stage. This marks the second water-related protest in the region within a week, highlighting the escalating crisis facing farmers in the Yadgir district.
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