Yettinahole is not feasible, reiterate experts

Human Rights Protection Foundation president Dr Ravindranath Shyanbhag said that Yettinahole project is envisioned for industrial purpose as against the general claim of supplying drinking water.

Delivering a talk on ‘An alternative to Yettinahole’ here, on Monday, he said “The government plans to supply 24 tmc of water and the project will be an utter failure as it is not feasible.”

“Out of the total proposed 24 tmc of water, the Kolar region will receive only 3 tmc of water. The project says that one tmc of water will be supplied to Devarayanadurga industrial area, which is technically wrong, raising the question on where does the remaining water would flow. The project,  which is underway with many uncertainties, fails to answer the questions pertaining to the impending threat,” he added.

He said the environment impact assessment report is not prepared claiming that the project fulfils only drinking water purpose and not any industrial or irrigation purpose. Such measure is taken just in order to evade further complications.

Asserting that the construction of a dam is not an easy task, Shyanbhag cited the exampleof Varahi irrigation project in Kundapur which has failed to supply water to the farmers in the region even after 35 years of its implementation.

“The project although taken up in a rapid phase needs 50 years for completion. It is said that the total amount of power required is said to be 370MW to pump the water.

Although Rs 3 is calculated per unit, the amount spent on power per year would cross Rs 137 crore.  It is estimated that the project would cost Rs 15,000 crore and the maintenance would be somewhere around 1,000 crore per annum,” he explained.

Ridiculing the government data that states there would be around 6280 mm rain in the region, he said the government data itself specifies that the rainfall in the region is 3,200 mm. It is said that nearly eight dams are built and the dams are built at an height of 750 meters, which might be prone to seismic activities. Besides the most alarming issue is that the water is lifted from an height of 950 metres. The rock structure in the areas wherein dams are being built will be damaged owing to the water pressure.

Suggesting alternatives to the project, the expert said, the government can go for fluoride treatment plant to clear the fluoride content in water in Kolar and Chikkaballapur region, which would costs Rs 60-70 cr.

“The government can also utilize waters of River Hemavathi which covers seven town municipalities and passes through Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru and parts of Tumakuru. Treating effluents, discharged from the drainages in town municipalities to the River, can offer 10 tmc of water, he suggested.