JOIN USProtest against plans to divert Kongana rivulet
Villagers have resolved to oppose the proposed diversion of Kongana rivulet towards Hunasoor on Saturday.
At a meeting chaired by former MLC Arun Machaiah, the residents of Begooru, Chenivada, Echooru, Huddooru, Halligattu, Hudikeri, B Shettigeri, Kunda, and Ponnampet opposed the project.
If the water from the Kongana rivulet is diverted to Kollithodu to fill the Lakshmanatheertha river to be supplied to Hunasoor and Mysuru, the people in the region will face acute shortage of water, felt the villagers.
In addition, the villagers said, “During the course of river diversion, the ecology will be lost. South Kodagu faces acute water shortage during peak summer. Instead of chalking out programmes for the supply of water to the local residents, the authorities are thinking of supplying water to neighbouring districts.”
The villagers opposed the move of the deputy commissioner to cancel the meeting without intimating anyone.
Arun Machaiah said, “Expert G Paramashivaiah had studied water problems faced by various districts in 2004. He had raised the issue of water crisis in Kodagu district in his report. Ponnampet, Gonikoppa, Hudikeri, B Shettigeri, Kanooru, Balale, Thithimathi and Hathooru gram panchayats in South Kodagu face water crisis. If the water from the Kongana rivulet is used effectively, then the water crisis can be mitigated. The meeting decided to submit a proposal to the state government to chalk out a project to use water from the Kongana rivulet to mitigate the crisis locally.”
JD(S) district president Sanketh Poovaiah said, “It is not right on the part of the state government to impose a project on the district.”