Siddu B. Nyamagouda

Siddu Nyamagouda (1950–2018), also known as Barrage Siddu, was an Indian politician who served as the Minister of State for Coal in the Government of India. He also held the position of MLC and was elected twice as Member of the Legislative Assembly to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in 2013 and 2018 from the Jamakhandi constituency in Bagalkote district.

Political career He contested Lok Sabha election in 1991 from Bagalkot against the former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde whom he defeated by a considerable margin

Social and economic upliftment of farmers; mobilised farmers to construct rupee one crore barrage across river Krishna without Govt. aid which provided irrigation lo 30,000 acres of land and drinking water to 2.5 lakh people and employment opportunities to 1.5 lakh people; this project is the first private dam in the country constructed by the people themselves.

Notable work He is known for building India's first private dam in 1989. The dam is named as Shrama Bindu Sagar and is built across Krishna River at Chikkapadasalgi village in Jamakhandi. The construction of dam took off in 1983 and the project drew the attention of international media. Farmers pooled their money and worked for six months to build the barrage. This accomplishment catapulted Siddu to national politics. He contested Lok Sabha election in 1991 against Ramakrishna Hegde and defeated him by considerable margin which paved the way for him to become minister in the P. V. Narasimha Rao's cabinet.

Death He died on 28 May 2018 near Tulasigeri on the way back to his constituency from New Delhi when his car's tire exploded, causing him to lose control and hit a barrier. He had a wife, two sons and three daughters.