Some 2,000 farmers in Kunigal and Arkere tehsils in Tumkur district in Karnataka are awaiting compensation for their land acquired for the Hemavathy Left Bank Canal under the Hemavathy reservoir project. They claim that the government had acquired their land seven years ago. The project, under construction, is being developed by Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited. Once completed, it will provide water for drinking and irrigation to the people in Tipturu, Turvekere, Gubbi, Chikkanayakanahalli and Kunigal tehsils in the district. The project has many phases, such as the Hemavathy Right Bank Canal, Hemavathy Left Bank Canal and Hemavathy Right Bank High-Level Canal. Ramanna S., a farmer from Kadamathikere village, said, "We agreed to give up our land only because the project would provide us water and because we were promised compensation." In the past seven years, the farmers have protested several times against the delay in receiving compensation, with the support of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, a farmers' body, but has not got any response from the state. Special Land Acquisition officer Ravindranath M.S., however, claims that almost all the farmers have been paid compensation, and only a few are left as there was a delay in the release of funds by the government. "There is no way compensation can get delayed for seven years unless there is a court case," he adds.