Villagers in the Kodagu district of Karnataka’s Kushalnagar taluk protest against water sports and call for a boycott of the election

In the Kushalnagar taluk, posters with the slogan “boycotting elections over need of pure water” were tacked to the exterior of homes in the Harangi and Atturu boundaries. In addition to alleging that the current water sports activity is harming the water’s cleanliness, the locals claimed that they are receiving tainted water from Harangi. They insisted for the water sports activities at Harangi be stopped right now.

The villagers staged a demonstration in the Harangi boundaries while carrying placards announcing their intention to boycott the polls, led by Bhaskar, the president of Kudumangalauru GP. There has been strong hostility to the water activities in Harangi since they began. The water supply to the areas of Atturu, Harangi, and Somwarpet has been contaminated due to the rise in boat rides in the backwaters. Since more elephants and other wildlife are visiting the backwaters to relieve their thirst, the activities would also have an impact on the wild creatures, according to Bhaskar.

The locals displayed what seemed to be water laced with oil that was given to them. Diesel has contaminated the water. Because the water is tainted with diesel, it cannot even be utilized for bathing or washing dishes, according to local Gangamma. There are around 300 households in the villages, and the bulk of the homes in the region have posters encouraging people to boycott the polls plastered to them. They vowed to boycott elections unless the water sports activities were immediately halted.