Farmers and villagers staged a protest in Hukkeri, Belagavi, on Thursday, voicing their anger over the Irrigation Department’s delay in compensating those who lost land due to the Hidkal Dam project.
Gathering in front of the Irrigation Department office, the protesters demanded accountability from officials.
Farmers from Mastiholi, Gudanatti, Beeraholli, and nearby villages in Hukkeri taluk said they have been raising this issue with the State government for years, but their appeals have gone unheard.
They pointed out that while some compensation has been issued, it remains insufficient in many cases, and several affected farmers have received nothing at all.
“We’ve approached multiple offices seeking compensation for nearly 400 acres of land, but our concerns have been met with indifference,” they said.
The farmers accused officials of ignoring High Court directives and failing to act on instructions given by district in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi.
The protest concluded after some officers assured the demonstrators that the matter would be addressed. Farmer leaders Santosh Patil, Balesh, Basavaraj Jagri, and others were present during the protest.
