Bengaluru: Launched amidst high expectations in Sept, the ambitious Yettinahole project to bring potable water from rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea to the parched lands of south interior Karnataka, has had a disappointing beginning.
Setting the project in motion, the govt had claimed it would pump 5 tmcft of water to the Vani Vilas Sagar (VVS) reservoir across the Vedavathi river in Hiriyur taluk of Chitradurga district. However, in three months since the launch, the govt could pump only a mere 2 tmcft of water (accounting for 40%) besides wasting an equal amount. With no signs of post-monsoon rain in the Malnad region, the first year of the project has left many disappointed.
Officials of the Visvesvaraya Jala Nigam Limited (VJNL) under the water resources department, which is executing the project, attributed the first year's setback to the breach of a lake at Belavadi near Halebeedu in Hassan district. "If not for the breach, we could have pumped about 2-2.5 tmcft of water into the canal. Unfortunately, all of it was wasted by letting it into the sea," explained a senior VJNL official. However, he expressed confidence that by next year, they will be able to pump 14 tmcft of water, provided a normal monsoon in 2025.
Besides, whatever water was pumped is yet to reach VVS. According to VJNL engineers, the water stopped 73km before the reservoir.
"The plan was to pump the water to Kagenahalla in Belur and from there to Dwarasamudra lake near Halebeedu. Subsequently, Belavadi lake was to be filled up and water was to be further diverted to VVS via the Vedavathi river valley spanning a distance of 132km. As soon as we started filling up Belavadi lake, under the jurisdiction of the minor irrigation department, the lake breached. Due to this, we could not pump the water and had to switch off the pumps for about 10 days. This resulted in wasting 2 tmcft of water. This was unexpected," explained VJNL managing director Sannachittaiah.
The project has benefited only parts of Arasikere and Belur taluks where close to 20 lakes have been filled up. "Whenever there was rain in the catchment areas, we pumped on an average 700-1,000 cusecs of water, and during rainless days, it dropped to 200 cusecs," revealed another official.
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All hurdles cleared for canal work
VJNL officials clarified that the environmental clearance issues that hindered the construction of a gravity canal in Hassan and Tumakuru districts have been resolved.
"We have already identified 41 acres of land in both Hassan and Tumakuru limits for compensatory afforestation, and that needs to be inspected and certified. Hopefully, by Jan 2025, we will get the clearance and complete the work on the canal. By 2025, we will take water to Tumakuru and Bengaluru Rural and to Kolar and Chikkaballapura by 2026. We will complete the project in 2026. In case there is any spillover, it may be extended up to 2027," Sannachittaiah said.