<p>Chikkaballapur: Environmentalist and irrigation activist Chowdappa has accused successive governments of betraying the people of the Bayaluseeme (plain land) region by failing to implement effective irrigation projects. He warned that if this injustice is not rectified, he will return the government awards conferred upon him to the district administration on August 16, and stage a hunger protest.</p><p>Addressing a press conference in Chikkaballapur on Thursday, Chowdappa expressed concern over treated sewage water from Bengaluru being diverted to the district under the H N Valley and K C Valley irrigation projects.</p><p><strong>‘Yettinahole, Bogus scheme’</strong></p><p>He also criticised the much-publicised Yettinahole project, calling it a “bogus” scheme. “As an engineer, I have studied the project in detail and submitted a report to the state government. However, the government continues to mislead the public,” he alleged.</p><p>He further pointed out that 180 tmcft of Krishna River water is flowing into Andhra Pradesh, and urged the state to utilise this resource efficiently. “In 2016, along with farmer leaders K S Puttannaiah and Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, we submitted a representation to the government and provided a detailed report. Unfortunately, no action was taken,” he added.</p><p>Citing data from the Central Water Commission, Chowdappa said the Yettinahole catchment in Sakaleshpur spans 177 sq km, yielding only nine tmcft of water. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has similarly estimated just eight tmcft of water from the region. Contrary to government claims of 6,200 mm annual rainfall, the actual average is around 3,200 mm.</p><p>“What year or data did they base this inflated figure on?” he questioned. “As an engineer who has thoroughly studied irrigation systems, I have submitted factual reports,” he added. He challenged the government to take local irrigation experts, farmers, and activists to the Yettinahole region and answer their questions transparently.</p><p>Chowdappa also claimed that only 10% of lakes in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts receive water from Yettinahole, proving its ineffectiveness. He demanded the government implement a comprehensive Bayaluseeme irrigation plan by August 15, and called for a decision on the issue during the Cabinet meeting scheduled at Nandi Hills on July 2.</p><p>Criticising Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar for celebrating a national award allegedly given to the Yettinahole project, Chowdappa asked, “How can a bogus project receive a national award?”</p>
<p>Chikkaballapur: Environmentalist and irrigation activist Chowdappa has accused successive governments of betraying the people of the Bayaluseeme (plain land) region by failing to implement effective irrigation projects. He warned that if this injustice is not rectified, he will return the government awards conferred upon him to the district administration on August 16, and stage a hunger protest.</p><p>Addressing a press conference in Chikkaballapur on Thursday, Chowdappa expressed concern over treated sewage water from Bengaluru being diverted to the district under the H N Valley and K C Valley irrigation projects.</p><p><strong>‘Yettinahole, Bogus scheme’</strong></p><p>He also criticised the much-publicised Yettinahole project, calling it a “bogus” scheme. “As an engineer, I have studied the project in detail and submitted a report to the state government. However, the government continues to mislead the public,” he alleged.</p><p>He further pointed out that 180 tmcft of Krishna River water is flowing into Andhra Pradesh, and urged the state to utilise this resource efficiently. “In 2016, along with farmer leaders K S Puttannaiah and Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, we submitted a representation to the government and provided a detailed report. Unfortunately, no action was taken,” he added.</p><p>Citing data from the Central Water Commission, Chowdappa said the Yettinahole catchment in Sakaleshpur spans 177 sq km, yielding only nine tmcft of water. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has similarly estimated just eight tmcft of water from the region. Contrary to government claims of 6,200 mm annual rainfall, the actual average is around 3,200 mm.</p><p>“What year or data did they base this inflated figure on?” he questioned. “As an engineer who has thoroughly studied irrigation systems, I have submitted factual reports,” he added. He challenged the government to take local irrigation experts, farmers, and activists to the Yettinahole region and answer their questions transparently.</p><p>Chowdappa also claimed that only 10% of lakes in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts receive water from Yettinahole, proving its ineffectiveness. He demanded the government implement a comprehensive Bayaluseeme irrigation plan by August 15, and called for a decision on the issue during the Cabinet meeting scheduled at Nandi Hills on July 2.</p><p>Criticising Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar for celebrating a national award allegedly given to the Yettinahole project, Chowdappa asked, “How can a bogus project receive a national award?”</p>
