Karwar: Farmers under the banner of Gangavali Valley and Agriculture Land Protection Committee picketed the deputy commissioners office in Karwar, demanding eight hour three phase power supply for agriculture phase power supply for agriculture pump on the banks of Gangavali river in Ankola taluk.

The protesters said, power supply to agriculture pump sets should not be stopped as horticulture crops would wither if water is not provided in summer.

Farmers who lost land for Kodsalli hydro project were rehabiliated at Dongri, Kaigadi, Heggar, Kalleshwar, Halavatta, Kimmani, Malagaon, Sunkasal and Vajralli in the Gangavali valley in Ankola taluk. They are totally dependent on agriculture to eke out their lives. They drink and irrigate crops with Ganagavali water. But the district administration without prior intimation disconnected power supply to many pumps sets on the banks of river.

Moreover, it has stopped three phase power supply. If crops are damaged, many families would be thrown to the streets, Committee President Shivaram Gaonkar said.

Zilla panchayat member Jagadish Nayak said, when water flow in Gangavali river decreased, the power connections to the pump sets were disconnected last year too.

Deputy Commissioner SS Nakul clarified that Gangavali River water was being supplied to Karwar and Ankola taluks. As precautionary step to avoid water crisis during summer, it was decided to stop using water for irrigation purpose. The government has instructed to give priority to drinking water supply, he said.

Pump sets used for drinking water supply would not be disconnected and action would be taken to provide three phase power supply for one hour everyday.