Karnataka's ₹23,252 Crore Drinking Water Project Reaches Major Milestone.

Karnataka's ambitious drinking water initiative, the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project, is set to achieve a significant milestone this week with the completion of its first phase. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the Stage-1 works on September 6.

The project, with a total estimated cost of ₹23,251.66 crore, aims to alleviate drinking water shortages in drought-prone areas of Karnataka, including Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Tumkur, Ramanagar, and Bangalore Rural districts. It involves lifting 24.01 TMC of water from Yettinahole and surrounding sources, including Kadumane Hole, Keri Hole, and Hongada Halla in the Western Ghats.

The initiative will use 14.056 TMC of water for direct supply and 9.953 TMC for recharging groundwater tables, benefiting approximately 75.59 lakh people across 6,657 villages and 38 towns in 29 taluks.

Shivakumar, also the Water Resources Minister, emphasized the project's significance and the cooperation received from various stakeholders, including landowners and local officials. Despite some criticism and obstacles, he assured that the project is progressing as planned. The project's next steps involve resolving remaining forest and land acquisition issues, with a goal to complete the entire initiative by March 31, 2027.

Stage-1 works, which began in 2014, have overcome several challenges. The Gravity Canal, a crucial component of the project, spans 252.61 km, with 164.47 km completed and 25.87 km underway. Temporary water release to Vani Vilasa Sagar is planned, and further progress depends on resolving land and forest department issues.

The project also incorporates advanced telemetry systems to accurately measure water flow, with recent monsoon data showing 14.13 TMC of recorded water.

ET