BAGEPALLI TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT—India is known as the classical land of the villages, around 70% of the population live in rural India and villages are not free of problems that means approx. 70% of our population is not living well and most of them are in grave problems. The major problems can be classified as:
The 1892 agreement (All the projects constructed by Karnataka are contrary to the agreement dated February 18, 1892, the consequential agreements of 1931 and 1948 (between Presidency of Madras and Maharaja of Mysore) bans the construction of irrigation projects inside the area of Chellur, Bagepalli road without the agreement of Andhra Pradesh government. N. Chandrababu Naidu said that the Paragodu project which was an irrigation project was actually supposed to irrigate about 500-600 acres as well as drinking water needs of Bagepalli. But the maximum water was supposed to get by Bagepalli for irrigation as Baepalli is a drought prone region.
The Andhra Pradesh government has told the Supreme Court that all hydro-projects constructed by Karnataka within its border in Cauvery and Pennar basins are illegal and should be dismantled.
Submitting a fresh application before the apex court, the government said: “All the projects constructed by Karnataka are contrary to the agreement dated February 18, 1892, the consequential agreements of 1931 and 1948 (between Presidency of Madras and Maharaja of Mysore).’’
Shailendra K Joshi, principal secretary (Irrigation and CAD Department), Andhra Pradesh government, had sought judicial order for dismantling all dams and barrages constructed by Karnataka in its territory.
-Economic problems,
-Social problems, and
-Political problems
-Social problems, and
-Political problems
Karnataka has about 175 taluks, taluk means a town which has number of villages.Bagepalli Taluk is one of the taluk of Kolar district in Karnataka and is one of the most backward taluk in all and has trifling industrial development growth.
Bagepalli taluk, Kolar district is a partially dry drought prone area which is situated about 100 kilometers away from Bangalore city in south India and shares border with Rayalaseema (Andhra Pradesh) and shares the same language, culture and social structure as Andhra Pradesh.
The taluk has a population of 169,689 persons (36,668 households) living in over 200 villages and covers an area of around 93 thousand hectares.
The industrial development of any area depends on the availability of resources like water, soil for agriculture, manpower, etc and their utilization. However, the potential resources available in the taluk have not been mixed matched and utilized effectively. The taluk has no mineral wealth and only a thin and fragile soil cover.
Bagepalli Taluk of Kolar district is one of the most backward taluk in Karnataka, and faces all the above problems rampantly; infact there is negligible industrial development.
According to Nanjundappa committee report, “Bagepalli is one among the 39 most backward taluks in the state.”
There are many reasons for underdevelopment and sluggish industrial development, like socio-economic level of the village, religion, education, poverty, lack of good governance, policies implementation etc. But there is one unseen problem which is not in the books but somewhere affects a lot. That problem is the location of the taluk.
Since the taluk shares its border with Andhra Pradesh, villages like Anantapur, Chittoor and etc, the taluk shares the same language, culture and social structure like Rayalaseema(Andhra Pradesh), ‘but its geographical location lies in Karnataka’. Most commonly spoken language is Telugu but Kannada is the official language.
This leads to a social crisis, where the gap between societal behavior, which mainly relates itself to that of Andhra Pradesh and its geographical location majorly being Karnataka, halts the development of Bagepalli taluk.
The primary cause of the problem can be traced back to the elementary level where though all the children talk Telugu at their homes, they are taught Kannada at school. This sort off creates an identity lapse, wherein kids learn both the cultures, but fail to make a choice as to what their priority is.
All the government proceedings in the Panchayat are carried on in Kannada, but people running the Panchayat and the contractors being appointed by them are Telugu. These dealings do not instigate clashes initially, but once they start establishing themselves, the whole question of whose land is it, comes into picture.
Most of the wall paintings are written in Kannada, which causes an obstacle for people to understand the basic message that needs to reach people.
In fact in a few villages of Bagepalli, the tariff rates of a cell phone are charged according to Andhra Pradesh and a Karnataka is considered to be on roaming.
“We speak Telugu at home and also with friends but in schools we read Kannada as first language, so when we want to go for higher studies and all, we face lot of difficulty and it becomes hard for us to cope up,” said Venu, class twelfth student, Thollapally village.
Maheshkumar P.S , a general store merchant of Pulagallu village (a village located on Rayalaseema) is unhappy about the stunted development of his village and his taluk because; it is a border area; contractors are from Andhra Pradesh for the projects but the government is of Karnataka; there is a clash between contractors and government, for which Pullagallu’s residents are facing a clash of cultures which has been given the title of ‘border dispute.’
This creates chaos amongst the villagers, especially villages that situated on border like Pullagallu.
The water situation in the taluk is terrible; the people living in Bagepalli taluk are becoming victims of fluorosis as the water they drink contains high fluoride content. Deccan Herald published a story on the similar issue which said, “In Bagepalli taluk, water bodies like tanks and ponds are the only sources of water. And these tanks and ponds solely dependent on good rainfall. These water bodies serve for multi-purpose activities, right from agriculture to drinking water. Unfortunately, due to inadequate rainfall, these tanks are ponds are drying up of late. Making matters worse, these tanks and ponds are full of silt, which affect the storage capacity of water.
The ground-water level is fast depleting and the people are forced to opt for sinking borewells for agriculture and drinking water purpose. These borewells are drilling water from the depths of the earth, thus giving way to the release of flouride in the water. For the last ten years, people of Bagepalli have been consuming water with high levels of flouride content. Almost every litre of drinking water contains more than two grams of flouride. Several people are being affected by this water, leading to disabilities of various forms. Children are the most affected, the former TP members explained.
The matter was assuming serious proportions and until and unless awareness was created among the public, the consequences of this would be far-reaching. A comprehensive approach should be followed to tackle this problem.
The elected representatives from this region should take some concrete steps in this regard, on a war-footing basis. They should begin the desilting of the ponds and tanks and clear them from encroachments.
Old wells, kalyanis, tanks and ponds should be rejuvenated and the sources of water should be identified. Soak pits should be installed to ensure that water did not go waste.
In order to increase the groundwater level, an awareness programme on a large scale should be launched in the taluk, the leaders suggested.”
The ground-water level is fast depleting and the people are forced to opt for sinking borewells for agriculture and drinking water purpose. These borewells are drilling water from the depths of the earth, thus giving way to the release of flouride in the water. For the last ten years, people of Bagepalli have been consuming water with high levels of flouride content. Almost every litre of drinking water contains more than two grams of flouride. Several people are being affected by this water, leading to disabilities of various forms. Children are the most affected, the former TP members explained.
The matter was assuming serious proportions and until and unless awareness was created among the public, the consequences of this would be far-reaching. A comprehensive approach should be followed to tackle this problem.
The elected representatives from this region should take some concrete steps in this regard, on a war-footing basis. They should begin the desilting of the ponds and tanks and clear them from encroachments.
Old wells, kalyanis, tanks and ponds should be rejuvenated and the sources of water should be identified. Soak pits should be installed to ensure that water did not go waste.
In order to increase the groundwater level, an awareness programme on a large scale should be launched in the taluk, the leaders suggested.”
So this explains how it is essential for water filtration plant to be constructed to overcome these major problems in Bagepalli. A businessman from Rayalaseema started with the construction of water filtration plant but due to the border issue of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, he had to shut the business because he was from Andhra Pradesh.
So the consequences of these border clashes have to be borne by the villagers.
Mahesh also said, “Bagepalli’s water has high fluoride content and 90% villagers suffer from flourosis and its effects and they badly need a water filtration plant. They had one plant in Pullagallu village but due to lack of proper maintenance by the panchayat, Karnataka’s government decided to hand over it to private company in Andhra Pradesh, but due to existing border dispute they had to shut down the water filtration plant.”
“These problems decelerate the business development since government is solely responsible for making all the decisions without the interference of the private companies which come to the taluk. Hence, the overall business growth is extremely slow,” he added.
In order to substantiate that border issue is a large-scale hindrance for the development of the taluk, Mahesh said, “a few years back, when S.M. Krishna was our chief minister and N. Chandrababu Naidu was Andhra Pradesh’s chief minister , a controversy between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh cropped up and the reason was a dam on the Chitravathi river, on who would use the collected water for irrigation and drinking because Andhra Pradesh claims that these dam projects were built under the violation of ‘inter-state agreements.’
Chithravathi river
The 1892 agreement (All the projects constructed by Karnataka are contrary to the agreement dated February 18, 1892, the consequential agreements of 1931 and 1948 (between Presidency of Madras and Maharaja of Mysore) bans the construction of irrigation projects inside the area of Chellur, Bagepalli road without the agreement of Andhra Pradesh government. N. Chandrababu Naidu said that the Paragodu project which was an irrigation project was actually supposed to irrigate about 500-600 acres as well as drinking water needs of Bagepalli. But the maximum water was supposed to get by Bagepalli for irrigation as Baepalli is a drought prone region.
An NGO member Tofeeque confirmed the same issue and said, “issues were there before the construction of dams and actually the dam was built three years back and since then its full of problems of water distribution and dishonesty because it is on border of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the water of the damn on Chitravathi river was going to Andhra Pradesh which was unaccepted by the people of Bagepalli, so around 200 villagers of Bagepalli went for protest to get the water, which is still going on.”
Also a report published by DNA newspaper last year said, “AP seeks order to dismantle dams built by Karnataka in its territory"Projects in Cauvery, Pennar illegal: AP
Pratap Patnaik, New Delhi, DH News Service:
Pratap Patnaik, New Delhi, DH News Service:
The govt said: "All the projects constructed by Karnataka are contrary to the agreement dated February 18, 1892, the consequential agreements of 1931 and 1948 (between Presidency of Madras and Maharaja of Mysore)."
The Andhra Pradesh government has told the Supreme Court that all hydro-projects constructed by Karnataka within its border in Cauvery and Pennar basins are illegal and should be dismantled.
Submitting a fresh application before the apex court, the government said: “All the projects constructed by Karnataka are contrary to the agreement dated February 18, 1892, the consequential agreements of 1931 and 1948 (between Presidency of Madras and Maharaja of Mysore).’’
Shailendra K Joshi, principal secretary (Irrigation and CAD Department), Andhra Pradesh government, had sought judicial order for dismantling all dams and barrages constructed by Karnataka in its territory.
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The affidavit filed by Joshi on April 7 said: “The proposed utilisation would have direct impact on the interests of Andhra Pradesh and diminish flows into the state causing irreparable loss and injury to its inhabitants.’’
The Andhra Pradesh government has countered the arguments of Karnataka by saying that the state was not a party to the agreement and it is not even a successor to the Presidency of Madras and the clauses in the agreement could not be forced on it for enforcement.
Andhra Pradesh is opposing the construction of Paragodu project on the Chitravathi river of Pennar basin, tank near Jalagondana Halli village in Kolar district, Nagalamadike project, anicut across the Pennar river near Gowribidnur village, Teeta project in Tumkur district, tank at Pasalaparthi village of Bagepalli Taluk in Kolar etc.
Dispute adjourned
The river water dispute between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh was adjourned on Thursday as the Centre did not file its reply.
A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan posted the matter for hearing after four weeks, giving the Centre three weeks to file its submission.
Advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for Karnataka, said the Paragodu dam on the river Chitravathi in the State and other projects were meant for providing drinking water to the drought-hit Kolar district and other areas.
“Andhra Pradesh is not at all affected by the planned extraction of water by Karnataka to meet the minor irrigation water requirements which are part of the human right under Article 21 of the Constitution,’’ said the
application filed by Advocate Sanjay Hegde.
‘Stop construction’
Andhra Pradesh has urged the apex court to immediately stop the construction of the projects over the Chitravathi River, which were basically denying drinking water to drought-hit Anantpur district.”
The Andhra Pradesh government has countered the arguments of Karnataka by saying that the state was not a party to the agreement and it is not even a successor to the Presidency of Madras and the clauses in the agreement could not be forced on it for enforcement.
Andhra Pradesh is opposing the construction of Paragodu project on the Chitravathi river of Pennar basin, tank near Jalagondana Halli village in Kolar district, Nagalamadike project, anicut across the Pennar river near Gowribidnur village, Teeta project in Tumkur district, tank at Pasalaparthi village of Bagepalli Taluk in Kolar etc.
Dispute adjourned
The river water dispute between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh was adjourned on Thursday as the Centre did not file its reply.
A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan posted the matter for hearing after four weeks, giving the Centre three weeks to file its submission.
Advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for Karnataka, said the Paragodu dam on the river Chitravathi in the State and other projects were meant for providing drinking water to the drought-hit Kolar district and other areas.
“Andhra Pradesh is not at all affected by the planned extraction of water by Karnataka to meet the minor irrigation water requirements which are part of the human right under Article 21 of the Constitution,’’ said the
application filed by Advocate Sanjay Hegde.
‘Stop construction’
Andhra Pradesh has urged the apex court to immediately stop the construction of the projects over the Chitravathi River, which were basically denying drinking water to drought-hit Anantpur district.”
*(At present Chief Justice is S H Kapadia)
But looks like government doesn’t see it as big an issue it portrays itself to be. Smt. Hanumantharaya, K.A.S.,Tehsildar, Bagepalli said, “there is no such problem, and also people cope well with both the languages, now they don’t face such problems.”
“There is no such issue now, it was there before, but now everything is taken care of, I cannot comment anymore” Public Works Departments Assistant Engineer.
“There are some border issues for sure, they also affect the overall people’s development in the taluk, but we all are habitual of this issue, wherever borders are there, some or other issues are always there, we don’t have issues like Karnataka-Maharashtra border issues,” said N.Nagappa, assistant executive engineer of Bagepalli.
When other government officials like panchayat members and heads of the Taluk and the villages were asked to comment on the issue, they all spoke the same tongue.
It may not seem an issue, but it definitely asks for serious action. It might not be as serious as a riot, but people still protest. It may be a small language rift, but it might lead into a war. It might just be a difference of opinion among people which might lead to negligible development of the place and sluggish business growth- Border dispute.
Panchayat members of Pulagallu village, according to them, there is no issues which pulls back and make development stagnant.
