Water crisis: Women block minister’s car

Koppal: Women in Sankanal village blocked the car of district minister and Kanakagiri MLA Shivaraj Tangadagi on Wednesday, demanding immediate supply of drinking water.The protest took place under the Navali gram panchayat limits when the minister was passing through the area after inaugurating development works. Holding empty pots, the women stopped his vehicle and raised slogans over the acute water shortage. The sudden protest left the minister taken aback. Despite his attempts to pacify them, the women expressed anger over the recurring summer crisis. "Development can wait. Give us drinking water first," they told him.Sankanal village, with over 100 houses, faces severe water scarcity every summer. The protesters demanded a permanent solution and insisted on immediate action. Tangadagi assured that steps would be taken and directed officials on the spot, following which the women dispersed.In a similar incident in Raichur district, residents of Palakanamaradi village in Devadurga taluk staged a protest outside the GP office with empty pots. Despite the Rs 11 crore multi-village drinking water scheme, the village is facing an acute shortage after two motors of the project burnt out a week ago, affecting Palakanamaradi, Madarakal, Vandali and Devaragudda villages.Villagers alleged that panchayat development officer Thimmanna failed to respond to complaints and cited a lack of funds for repairs. Accusing officials of negligence, residents gathered at the office and sang protest songs to draw attention to their plight.