Harihara MLA BP Harish Criticises District Minister Over Bhadra Canal Water Allocation Disparity

At a Press Day event organized by the Working Journalists Association taluk unit in Malebennur town of Harihara taluk, Harihara MLA B.P. Harish raised serious concerns over the uneven distribution of irrigation water from the Bhadra reservoir. He criticized District In-charge Minister S.S. Mallikarjun and the district administration for releasing Bhadra water solely for drinking purposes towards Davanagere town while neglecting the agricultural canal network in Harihara taluk. MLA Harish stated that the current water management policy has created a divide between paddy growers and arecanut plantation farmers in the region. He pointed out that local open wells and borewells in Malebennur hobli have dried up, leading to acute drinking water shortages in rural habitations. Although the Bhadra reservoir holds 178 feet of water, agricultural fields at the tail-end of the canal system in Harihara taluk have not received adequate supply for crop cultivation. Farmers who prepared paddy nurseries were forced to destroy seedlings due to the lack of timely canal discharge. Harish questioned the district administration's decision-making process, alleging political bias in water distribution. The dispute has intensified public concern among farmers in Malebennur and nearby villages in Harihara taluk, who are demanding an immediate review of canal water release schedules to safeguard standing crops.