The Bharatiya Raitha Okkoota on Monday advised the government to tap the five rivers originating from Nandi Hills and use their water for irrigation and drinking purposes in Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumkur, Bangalore Rural and Bangalore South districts.

The State president of the Okkoota, Narasimhappa said that the name of the project of bringing water from the Hemavathi river should not be Nethravathi diversion project or Pashchima Vahini.

He said there was a protest against bringing the water of the Nethravathi river to the dry zones in the past. Naming the project as Nethravathi diversion project would trigger another round of protests, Narasimhappa said.

“It is not the water of Nethravathi river, but that of Hemavathi river which will be brought from Sakleshpur and Mudigere to the drought-hit zones,” said Narasimhappa.

He is also opposed to the name Pashchima Vahini, as this is the name of a place in Srirangapatna where final rites are performed.

The farmers’ leader said the water of the five rivers -- Uttara Pennar-Dakshina Pennar,
Chitravathi, Papagni, Palar and Arkavathi -- which originate from the Nandi Hills could
be utilised for irrigation and drinking purposes in the dry zones.