District minister to offer baagina today; farmers furious

MYSORE: A day after authorities refused permission to farmers to perform baagina to river Kapila at the Kabini dam site, the state government will offer baagina on Sunday.
However, making a departure from practice, district minister V Srinivas Prasad will offer the puja. Earlier, it was the chief minister who used to offer the puja.
Angered by the government's decision to offer puja, farmers said they will stage a protest at the dam site.Farmer leader Kurbur Shantakumar who was detained by police on Friday, said the government has insulted the farmer community. "We've been offering puja to the river for 12 years. In fact, the practice was started by us. But water resources authorities have cheated us by denying us permission to enter the dam," Shantakumar told Sunday Times of India. He said they had approached chief engineer (South) B Shivashankar on July 15 and told him that they will perform the puja. He didn't oppose it. However, we were not allowed inside the dam on Friday," he stated adding they will protest on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a press release said Prasad will be accompanied by water resources minister M B Patil, PWD minister H C Mahadevappa and cooperation minister H S Mahadeva Prasad when the puja is offered.
The dam filled to the brim on Friday. As against maximum of 2,284 ft, the level is at 2,282 ft.