Bengaluru: Southwest monsoon is traditionally a season of hope for Karnataka’s farmers. From the rain-fed fields of Chamarajanagar in the south to the vast farmlands of Bidar in the north, arrival of monsoon usually marks the beginning of sowing and a host of other agricultural activities, keeping rural households occupied until Oct.This year, however, the season has unfolded very differently. Even as monsoon has covered the entire state, thousands of farmers have taken to the streets, protesting against land acquisition for industrial projects, delays in irrigation works, inadequate supply of seeds and fertilisers, and a host of unresolved agrarian issues. The growing unrest comes at a time when forecasts indicate the possible emergence of El Niño conditions, raising fresh concerns over rainfall and agricultural productivity.What has further deepened the anxiety is the absence of a full-time agriculture minister in Karnataka. Amid the uncertainties, TOI takes a look at the major agrarian crises unfolding across Karnataka.Bengaluru SouthProject: Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) Location: BidadiLand Notified: 7,500 acresAffected villages: 09ChikkaballapurProject: Sir M Visvesvaraya Deep Tech ParkLocation: Jangamakote in Shidlaghatta talukLand required: 2,823 acres Affected villages: 13Project: Permanent irrigation facilityLocation: Kolar & ChikkaballapurDemand: Clean, Safe water for potable and Irrigation purposeTumakuruProject: HAL Phase-2Location: Gubbi Land required: 150-200 acresAffected villages: 05Project: Hemavathi Express Link Canal Location: Gubbi to Kunigal Land required: 80 AcresAffected villages: 08Mysuru Project: Nimhans model hospital & de-addiction centreLocation: Gudumadanahalli, Mysuru Taluk Land required: 20 Acres Affected village: OneProject: KIADB Industrial Park Location: Chikkayyanachatra, Nanjangud Land required: 1,123 acres Affected villages: 04MandyaProject: KIADB Industrial Park Location: Maddur, Mandya Land required: About 500 acresChitradurga Project: Upper Bhadra Project Launch of Project: 2010Location: 4 Districts of Central Karnataka Benefitted Land: 2.25 lakh hectaresDakshina Kannada Project: Udupi-Kasaragod Transmission Ltd Location: Mangaluru-Udupi Land required: Over 2,000 acresProject: MRPL Buffer zone Location: Mangaluru Land required: 27 acresShivamoggaProject: Sharavathi pumped storage Location: Sagar-GerusoppaLand required: 279 hectaresUttara KannadaProject: Linking of Bedthi-Varada-AghanashiniLocation: Sirsi-YellapurLand required: Over 300 acresBagalkotProject: Industrial estate Location: Halakurki, BagalkotLand required: 2,200 acresBallariProject: Reclaim land acquired for industrial parkLocation: Near Kudatini Land demand: 10,000 acres
