To take away the tag of being a drought effected region, Tumkur has to have the Hemavathi project up and running. Only this will mean water for the region.. But for the project to be completed, atleast Rs 500 crore needs to be earmarked for it in the current budget,” according to former MLA S P Muddahanume Gowda. In a letter to the Governor Rameshwar Thakur, the leader made a request for funds to complete the project that may just be the answer to Tumkur’s water woes.

“In the last four-five years, the political scenario has not been conducive to focus on the effective completion of the project. To complete the project we will need atleast another Rs 980 crore,” the letter is said to have informed the Governor.

Rs 193 crore had been earmarked in the budget last year for the project. But only Rs 110 crore was released. “This irregular and insufficient release of funds have adversely effected the completion of the project.” he said. He also added that with every delay, not only did the cost of the project increase but also it meant that the main objective it to provide water as early as possible to Tumkur was defeated.

He also referred to Dr D M Nanjundappa’s report that has listed even Kunigal as drought ridden.

Unnecessary delays
He charged that due to the unnecessary delays in the project, the public and especially the farmers being unjustly denied Hemavati river water and were paying a very heavy price for administration laxity.

Keeping in mind the well being of the farmers, the regions that line the Hemavathi canal including Hebbur, Guloor, which fall under lift irrigation project that can be extended to the Mutturaya lake in Huliyuru in Kunigal taluk, but will need infrastructure for about 240 kms and for the development of the farmers in Gubbi and Turuvekere, the canal 26, 27 and 27 R  facilitating the distribution   of water need to become operational at the earliest. For this atleast Rs 500 crore needs to be ear-marked in the current budget.

Human suffering
The people who live in Hebbur, Guloor face water crisis every year. Summers mean drought and no water to drink. The plight of the people is almost palpable. The only thing that stood inbetween these people and death was the Hebbur-Guloor lift irrigation project which is now in shambles because of officials’ apathy.  Built at a measly cost of Rs 33 crore the project does not seem to have a future because the administration has completely neglected it.

“Water projects should be completed without a hitch because it means the basic necessity for a human being to survive- water. I therefore urge that this project be completed at the earliest keeping in mind the human suffering of the area” said the former MLA’s letter to the Governor.