BENGALURU: The task force on Western Ghats appointed by the Karnataka government has strongly recommended dropping the plan to draw water from the Sharavati river to meet Bengaluru’s drinking water needs.
The task force headed by S Chandrashekar submitted its final report to forest minister Satish Jarkiholi on Wednesday and insisted that no irrigation or other water projects, should be taken up in the Western Ghats.
“There are various projects in the forests of the Western Ghats, including the ongoing one to divert the Yettinahole, a tributary of Netravati, to Hassan and Tumakuru, among other districts. More such projects will only have an adverse effect on the Ghats. There is pressure from existing hydroelectric projects, railway lines and electric lines as well. So, it would be appropriate not to take up any such projects, including the Sharavati project,” the report added.
The government planned to draw 775 million litres per day from the Linganamakki reservoir (400km from Bengaluru in Sagar, Shivamogga district) along the Sharavati river in the Western Ghats. An expert committee report on the project is ready and it was to be completed by 2040, provided all permissions were granted. The project enraged people in the Malnad region who said the project would adversely impact the region.
The task force, which studied the Ghats for about two years, came up with 32 recommendations for protection of forests here, a major biodiversity hot spot in the country. The Ghats are also the origin of 22 major rivers and 180 tributaries.
Aasked about task force’s stand on the Yettinahole project, Chandrashekar said, “The project is already being implemented and the government can’t be asked to stop it now. We told government to save as much of the forests as possible.”
Satish Jarkiholi said: “The state government will review the recommendations and implement those suitable for forest protection.”
The task force headed by S Chandrashekar submitted its final report to forest minister Satish Jarkiholi on Wednesday and insisted that no irrigation or other water projects, should be taken up in the Western Ghats.
Times View
The idea should have been spiked at the proposal stage but somehow sneaked its way into a project. Drawing water from the Linganamakki reservoir along the Sharavati river in the Western Ghats all the way to slake Bengaluru’s thirst seemed a desperate attempt to solve a problem which should be tackled differently. Predictably, people of the Malnad region opposed the project tooth and nail and mobilised themselves into an organised protest. Now, that the task force has wisely advised the government to scrap the project, the authorities should do so forthwith. And channelise their energies better to solve Bengaluru’s water woes.
“There are various projects in the forests of the Western Ghats, including the ongoing one to divert the Yettinahole, a tributary of Netravati, to Hassan and Tumakuru, among other districts. More such projects will only have an adverse effect on the Ghats. There is pressure from existing hydroelectric projects, railway lines and electric lines as well. So, it would be appropriate not to take up any such projects, including the Sharavati project,” the report added.
The government planned to draw 775 million litres per day from the Linganamakki reservoir (400km from Bengaluru in Sagar, Shivamogga district) along the Sharavati river in the Western Ghats. An expert committee report on the project is ready and it was to be completed by 2040, provided all permissions were granted. The project enraged people in the Malnad region who said the project would adversely impact the region.
The task force, which studied the Ghats for about two years, came up with 32 recommendations for protection of forests here, a major biodiversity hot spot in the country. The Ghats are also the origin of 22 major rivers and 180 tributaries.
Aasked about task force’s stand on the Yettinahole project, Chandrashekar said, “The project is already being implemented and the government can’t be asked to stop it now. We told government to save as much of the forests as possible.”
Satish Jarkiholi said: “The state government will review the recommendations and implement those suitable for forest protection.”
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