Paramashivaiah passes away

Irrigation expert G S Paramashivaiah, 95, passed away here on Tuesday.  Paramashivaiah, who headed the State technical advisory committee on irrigation, was suffering from cold and fever for the past three days. On Tuesday, he was admitted to a private hospital where he breathed his last.

He is survived by three sons and a daughter. Family sources said the last rites would be performed on Wednesday.

Paramashivaiah, who had participated in the Quit India movement, later served in the Irrigation department in various capacities, till he retired as a superintendent engineer in 1974. He then served as the principal of the Government Polytechnic College in Tumkur. He was appointed chairperson of the advisory committee on irrigation by the then chief minister S M Krishna.

The Paramashivaiah committee recommended diversion of water from 11 sea-flowing rivers to supply water to Kolar, Tumkur, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara, parts of Mandya, Bangalore Urban and Rural districts.

However, the committee’s recommendations received a mixed response, with residents of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts seeking their implementation.

But residents of the coastal districts vehemently opposed the recommendation to divert the River Netravati for the purpose.Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Water Resources Minister M B Patil have condoled Paramashivaiah’s death. Siddaramaiah said Paramashivaiah was the inspiration for several irrigation and drinking water supply schemes in the State.