Minister says land yet to be acquired for Yettinahole project

Water Resources Minister M B Patil on Wednesday said that land has not been acquired for the Yettinahole project, which aims to provide drinking water to districts  facing water scarcity.

However, Rs 1,600 crore has been spent so far on the project, the minister said while replying to questions by E Krishnappa (JD-S) and Y A Narayanswamy (BJP) in the Legislative Council.

The minister said, for Phase I of the project, a total of 276.08 ha, including 13.93 ha of forest land, and for Phase II, 4,913.13 ha (including for construction of canals and reservoirs) were required.

The proposals for acquiring land have been submitted to the deputy commissioner. In respect of forest land, the proposal has been submitted to the Union forest ministry, he added.

Land Acquisition Act

The minister said confusion over the Land Acquisition Act delayed the project by one-and-a-half years. As per the Act, social impact study of the acquisition would be looked into.
A letter to this effect has been written to the revenue department, he added.

The government has also entered into tripartite agreement with farmers with land holding for purchase of land. But the land has not been acquired. During the acquisition, compensation would be paid to the farmers from the date of land acquisition, he added.

Rs 450 cr santioned

The government had sanctioned Rs 450 crore for the project, while work costing Rs 1,142 crore has begun. In the current year, as against Rs 350 crore earmarked, the spending has been about Rs 456 crore.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has assured to sanction Rs 1,500 crore, he added.  Giving the deadline set for the implementation of the mega project, Patil said by 2016, Phase I would be completed.

For Phase II, loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was expected and work was likely to be completed by 2018, he added.

Project fact file

Districts WHICH get water under the project & quantum (IN TMC FT)

Chikkamagaluru    0.3
Hassan    0.5
Tumakuru    2.4
Kolar    2.9
Chikkaballapur    2.2
Bengaluru Rural    1.9
Ramanagara    1.8
TG Halli reservoir    1.7
Hesarghatta reservoir    0.8
Devanahalli industrial area 0.5