BJP MLA B.P. Harish has accused the Karnataka government of neglecting the Bhadra canal system and denying farmers in Davanagere district timely irrigation water, while also questioning the functioning of Horticulture, Mines and Geology Minister S.S. Mallikarjun.
Speaking at a press conference in Davanagere on Thursday, Harish alleged that Mallikarjun remained outside the state more often than in Karnataka and said the government should create a foreign affairs ministerial post for him. The MLA said the minister was not active even during drought conditions, attended legislature sessions only briefly and did not participate regularly in cabinet meetings.
Harish also alleged that irregularities at factories owned by Mallikarjun had been confirmed by an inquiry committee appointed by the state government. He questioned why the government had not taken action against the minister, while making wider allegations against the Shamanur family. The claims were made by Harish at the press conference and were not independently established in the report.
The MLA’s main criticism concerned the Bhadra canal network in the Malebenur area. He said only four of the 15 sanctioned or assigned engineers were working in the area, and alleged that staff responsible for managing canal water had not received salaries for four months. Harish attributed the situation to a lack of funds in the state treasury.
He also challenged statements about modernising the canals, alleging that MP Dr Prabha Mallikarjun had provided misleading information to the public. The report did not include a response from the minister, the MP or the state government to these allegations.
Harish said farmers in the Bhadra command area could have cultivated paddy during the monsoon season if irrigation water had been released. He argued that higher paddy prices would have benefited farmers, but alleged that water was diverted to Chitradurga district to influence voters during the Hiriyur by-election, causing a disadvantage to farmers in Davanagere district.
The dispute highlights the administrative importance of canal operations beyond the question of reservoir storage. Staffing levels, payment of field personnel and decisions on the timing and destination of water releases directly affect whether irrigation infrastructure delivers water to farms. In Harish’s account, the problem involves both physical canal management and the government’s allocation priorities.
The BJP MLA warned that farmers would not forgive the government if water was not released from the Bhadra reservoir for summer crops. BJP leader Yashwanth Rao Jadhav was present at the press conference. Harish also said his absence from a campaign meeting for the South-East Graduates’ Constituency election was accidental and that he did not know why his supporters had not attended.
