JOIN USThe water storage level at the Chitravathi barrage in Paragodu, on the outskirts of the town, has dropped to naught thanks to a large buildup of silt and debris.
The reservoir had been constructed at Paragodu to ensure that Bagepalli was adequately supplied with water. But residents charge contractors with having ill-maintened the barrage, leaving silt levels to increase over years, even as water levels recede.
Residents explained that even during heavy rains, the 36-foot deep reservoir is able to hold only about eight feet of water. “The rest of the space is occupied by stones, boulders and logs,” they said and claimed that as a result, they are experiencing a condition of ‘too nearm yet too far’ syndrome, when it comes to usable water in the area.
Vice president of the Samithi, Govardhanachari, warned that an intense protest, including a Bagepalli bandh, would be undertaken if the barrage was not desilted and the boulders cleared.
Kalavathi, a resident of Bagepalli’s Ward No 7, told Deccan Herald, that villages all over the taluk were struggling for want of water. “The wards in the town are supplied water only once in 10 days. Women have to travel far and wait for long hours near borewells to get water. The government has to find other means of supplying water to help people.”
Origins
The barrage came into being after former legislator G V Srirama Reddy revealed an action plan in 1996, to use Rs eight crore from the Nabard project of the Small Irrigation Department, to build a reservoir at Paragodu. To this end, the taluk initially received a sum of Rs 2.4 crore.
But following a change in political power, construction of the barrage was stalled. Citizens and members of various organisations were forced to stage a 63-day protest that forced the then-Chief Minister S M Krishna government to release the balance of funds in order to finish the project. At the present time, the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board still has to release up to Rs 51.80 lakh to contractors, which will enable them to clear the area of stones and boulders using blasting powder.
Residents allege that the presence of the stones and that the general condition of the reservoir has only worsened with the buildup of silt. “The boulders, stacked near the reservoir for use in construction, were never used. The water level has fallen, thanks to such poor work by contractors,” they said.
Following the 16-day protest by the Chitravathi Anekattu Horata Samithi members, the Board discussed the possibilty of clearing the silt with contractors. “The officers of concerned departments should have supervised the work of the contractors. But today, the water in the barrage is at very low level and is also muddy. The contractors should be paid the rest of the money so that the stones and boulders in the reservoir can be cleared,” said Govardhanachari, speaking to Deccan Herald.