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**Summary:**

Farmers in the Tumakuru district of Karnataka are protesting the Hemavati Express Link Canal Project, which aims to divert water to Magadi taluk in Bengaluru South for drinking purposes and groundwater recharge. The project involves a 34.5km underground pipeline diverting water from the Tumakuru branch canal. Farmers fear reduced water supply to their region, potential damage to their farms, and lack of transparency from the government. While the government argues the project is necessary to supply water to Magadi, which is part of the Cauvery basin and legally entitled to the water, protesters demand a viability study. The project has become politically charged, with opposition parties and religious leaders supporting the protests, while Magadi residents are staging counter-protests demanding the project’s implementation.

**News Article:**

**Karnataka Farmers Protest Water Diversion Project, Sparking Political Feud**

**GUBBI, KARNATAKA -** A controversial water diversion project has ignited tensions in Karnataka, with farmers in the Tumakuru district staging massive protests against the Hemavati Express Link Canal Project. The project aims to supply water to Magadi taluk in Bengaluru South for drinking purposes and groundwater rejuvenation, diverting water from the existing Tumakuru branch canal.

On May 31st, an estimated 20,000 farmers descended upon Sankapura village in Gubbi taluk, prompting authorities to temporarily halt civil work on the project. Protesters, including opposition legislators from the BJP and JD(S), along with religious leaders, allege the project will deprive Tumakuru of vital water resources and damage farmland. Thirteen FIRs have been filed against over 100 people involved in the protest.

“We are not against sharing water, but oppose the project in this form,” said Govind Rao, a local coconut farmer. Farmers also expressed concern about the lack of transparency and proper land acquisition processes by the government.

The project, estimated at ₹1,000 crore, involves a 34.5 km underground pipeline. While the government argues the pipeline is necessary to prevent water theft and evaporation, farmers fear the project will drastically impact the water yield in Tumakuru district.

Adding fuel to the fire, residents of Magadi taluk have begun staging counter-protests, demanding the project’s immediate implementation. The project has also taken on a political dimension with accusations of vested interests involving Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Water Resources Department officials defend the project, asserting that Magadi is part of the Cauvery basin and legally entitled to the allocated water, and is a priority for drinking water as per the National Water Policy.

The protests and counter-protests highlight the complex challenges of water resource management and distribution in Karnataka, as the government attempts to balance the needs of different regions while facing intense political pressure.

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