Government firm on Yettinhole to satiate thirst of Kolar, CB Pur

The State government is firm on going ahead with the Yettinahole project under which drinking water will be supplied to the arid districts of Kolar and Chikkaballapur, Water Resources Minister M B Patil said here on Monday.

Since the two districts have no perennial source of water, it has become inevitable for the government to lift water from Sakleshpur in Hassan district. “There is no question of going back on the project as experts have suggested that the Yettinahole project is feasible,” he asserted.

When Deccan Herald asked the minister whether necessary clearances from various departments had been obtained for the project, Patil said that only the forest clearance was required.

“Being a drinking water project, it requires only the forest clearance. We’ll apply to the forest department. We don’t need environment clearance,” he added.

Patil claimed he had spoken to local people who had opposed the Yettinahole project. He admitted that some of them had moved the court but expressed confidence that would not come in the way of implementing the project. He said those who had problems with the project should realise that there was not enough drinking water in Kolar, Chikkaballapur and the surrounding districts. Providing drinking water to the people is a social commitment and the government would fulfill it, he added.

When asked how would the government ensure the Yettinahole project was not utilised for non-drinking water purpose, the minister gave the example of Shivanasamudra dam in Mandya district, which remained dedicated to providing Cauvery water for drinking purpose of Bengalureans. Water under the Yettinahole project would be utilised only for the intended purpose, he insisted.

When his attention was drawn to concerns that 24 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water — as projected by the water resources department — may not be available in the catchment areas, the minister said three expert panels had confirmed that sufficient water would be available. Provision for another six tmcft of water has been made, for which certain water streams in Gundiya valley in Dakshina Kannada district would be used, he added.

According to the minister, water would be lifted at Yettinahole only during the monsoon. The rainwater would be harnessed instead of letting it go waste, he said.