Forest land for Yaragol project gets nod

Work on dam expected to commence in January

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has granted its approval to hand over 62.07 hectare of forest land to Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board for the long-pending Yaragol water supply project.

The Rs 240-crore water supply project conceived in 2006-07 has been facing hurdles over acquisition of forest land. The project, when completed, will supply water to Kolar, Malur, Bangarpet and 45 villages.

According to the official sources, H C Chowdhary, Assistant Principal Conservator of Forests with MoEF, in his letter dated December 4, 2012, addressed to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Karnataka, has stated that approval has been granted to hand over 62.07 hectare of forest land to KUWSSB for the construction of a dam as part of the Yaragol project.

Now, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests has to write to the Assistant Conservator of Forests, Kolar, giving suitable directions.

Deputy Commissioner D S Vishwanath told Deccan Herald that the notification on handing over the land has been gazetted on December 22 and the work on the dam would commence in the second week of January.

An official of the Water Board said the Assistant Conservator of Forests of the district was contacted on handing over of the land on Friday, who said he was awaiting instructions from Deputy Conservator of Forests.

After the handing over of land, the contractor will construct 2.5-km road from Yaragol to the dam site. A office will be set up at the site, and the deputy commissioner has discussed the modalities last week, the official said.

Petition in High Court

It has already been a year since a public interest litigation was filed in the High Court of Karnataka seeking early implementation of the project.
The petitioners - Ravindranath of Human Relevant Research Institution, M Arun
Kumar, the president of District Bar Association and Dr K M J Mouni of Adarsha Samaja Seva Trust - have approached the High Court alleging inordinate delay in execution of the project.

The petition names Chief Secretary to government, principal secretary to Housing and Urban Development Department, secretary to Irrigation Department, secretary to Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, chief executive officer of the Zilla Panchayat, assistant conservator of forests, executive director of Karnataka Water Supply and Drainage Board, Union Minister K H Muniyappa and district in-charge minister Varthur Prakash as respondents.

According to the petition filed on December 2 last year, the elected representatives from the district and the authorities concerned have utterly failed  in ensuring timely completion of the project. The delay has led to residents reeling under acute water scarcity. The petition also alleges irregularities in purchase of pipes leading to misuse of Rs 48.79 lakh.

M Shivaprakash, the High Court advocate who appears for the petitioners said a committee should be formed to monitor the progress of the project. He said the committee should comprise social workers and officials from various related departments.