DHARWAD: The work on de-silting Neerasagar Lake commenced on Saturday with Union parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi and revenue minister R V Deshpande flagging off the project.
Tata Hitachi has taken up the work under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and has already deployed one earth mover.
The lake, which was a source of drinking water for Dharwad and Hubballi before the Malaprabha water supply scheme was made operational in 1970s, has gone dry following shortage of rain and blocking of streams that fed water to it.
With water level at Malaprabha reservoir near Savadatti also going down drastically, drinking water supply to the twin cities has been affected badly. Hubballi was being supplemented by water from Neerasagar near Dhumwad, 10 kms off Dharwad. Since this lake has almost dried up, drinking water problem in Hubballi has become acute.
Taking a serious note of the situation, Deshpande had ordered the de-silting of Neersagar Lake and clearing encroachments of the lake at a meeting held last week.
Deshpande said he had spoken to Tata Hitachi managing director Sandeep Singh to take up de-silting work under CSR and the latter had agreed.
Tata Hitachi is ready to press into service more earth movers if need be, he said. “It is good if it rains now. The lake is spread over 1,000 acres and de-silting will be taken up in 100 acres. In case of rains, the work will be resumed in October,” Deshpande said.
On diverting water from Kali to Malaprabha reservoir, he said expert’s opinion was that it was not feasible.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the centre was ready to lend all support for the project.
To a question on resolving the Mahadayi issue, Joshi said he had suggested chief minister Kumaraswamy and water resources minister D K Shivakumar to bring legal experts to suggest a remedy as both Goa and Karnataka have approached the Supreme Court after Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal gave its verdict.
“We are eager to resolve the issue but the matter is in Supreme Court and there are legal implications. Deshpande is scheduled to visit Delhi next week and we will discuss the means of resolving the issue” Joshi said.
Lake’s history
Neersagar Lake was developed as a source of drinking water for Dharwad in two phases - first in 1950 at a cost of Rs 1.7 crore and then in 1969 at a cost of Rs 48 lakhs. The lake having a catchment area of 181.08 square km has the capacity to hold 28.9 million cubic meters of water.
Tata Hitachi has taken up the work under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and has already deployed one earth mover.
The lake, which was a source of drinking water for Dharwad and Hubballi before the Malaprabha water supply scheme was made operational in 1970s, has gone dry following shortage of rain and blocking of streams that fed water to it.
With water level at Malaprabha reservoir near Savadatti also going down drastically, drinking water supply to the twin cities has been affected badly. Hubballi was being supplemented by water from Neerasagar near Dhumwad, 10 kms off Dharwad. Since this lake has almost dried up, drinking water problem in Hubballi has become acute.
Taking a serious note of the situation, Deshpande had ordered the de-silting of Neersagar Lake and clearing encroachments of the lake at a meeting held last week.
Deshpande said he had spoken to Tata Hitachi managing director Sandeep Singh to take up de-silting work under CSR and the latter had agreed.
Tata Hitachi is ready to press into service more earth movers if need be, he said. “It is good if it rains now. The lake is spread over 1,000 acres and de-silting will be taken up in 100 acres. In case of rains, the work will be resumed in October,” Deshpande said.
On diverting water from Kali to Malaprabha reservoir, he said expert’s opinion was that it was not feasible.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the centre was ready to lend all support for the project.
To a question on resolving the Mahadayi issue, Joshi said he had suggested chief minister Kumaraswamy and water resources minister D K Shivakumar to bring legal experts to suggest a remedy as both Goa and Karnataka have approached the Supreme Court after Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal gave its verdict.
“We are eager to resolve the issue but the matter is in Supreme Court and there are legal implications. Deshpande is scheduled to visit Delhi next week and we will discuss the means of resolving the issue” Joshi said.
Lake’s history
Neersagar Lake was developed as a source of drinking water for Dharwad in two phases - first in 1950 at a cost of Rs 1.7 crore and then in 1969 at a cost of Rs 48 lakhs. The lake having a catchment area of 181.08 square km has the capacity to hold 28.9 million cubic meters of water.
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