Yettinahole Water Project to Alleviate Water Scarcity in Karnataka, Inauguration on Sept 6

Bengaluru: The long-awaited Yettinahole water project, designed to alleviate the severe water scarcity in seven parched districts of central and southern Karnataka, is set to be dedicated to the public on Gowri Habba, September 6. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced on Sunday that the project, which has been in the works for nearly a decade, will finally be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on this auspicious day.

“This is a festival gift to the people of Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Hassan, Ramanagara, and Bengaluru Rural districts,” said Shivakumar, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio. He emphasised that leaders from across political lines have contributed to the realization of this project. “I had taken up this project as a challenge in the last year and completed the works on a war footing,” he added.

A Long Road to Completion
The Yettinahole project, initially approved by the previous Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in 2014, was originally budgeted at ₹12,912.36 crore. However, due to various challenges, including land acquisition issues and rising costs, the project’s budget has escalated to ₹23,251 crore. The project is now set to provide 24.01 tmcft of water, aimed at addressing the acute drinking water shortages in the seven identified districts.

Shivakumar highlighted that land acquisition, particularly of forest land, had posed significant hurdles to the project’s progress. “Once these issues are sorted out, water will flow into the canals and to the Vani Vilas Sagar dam. Currently, water is being lifted from seven weirs (check dams),” he said, signalling the imminent completion of the final stages of the project.

Addressing Water Scarcity
The Yettinahole project has two primary components: drinking water supply and tank filling. The main objective is to meet the drinking water needs of 38 towns and over 6,600 villages spread across 29 taluks. As per the project proposal, the total quantum of water required for the drinking water component, considering the projected population for 2023-24, is about 15.029 tmcft. This includes the augmentation of the TG Halli and Hesarghatta reservoirs, as well as supplying water to the Devanahalli industrial area and its surrounding regions.

In addition to the drinking water component, the project plans to utilise 9.9 tmcft of water to fill 507 tanks and ponds in the region. This aspect of the project is crucial for sustaining local agriculture and ensuring water availability in drought-prone areas, contributing to the overall economic stability of the region.

A Festival Gift to the People
As the Yettinahole project nears completion, it is set to bring much-needed relief to millions of residents across central and southern Karnataka. The project’s dedication on Gowri Habba, a festival that symbolises prosperity and well-being, is a significant gesture by the government, indicating the importance of this project in improving the quality of life for the people in the affected districts.

Shivakumar’s efforts over the past year to push the project towards completion on a “war footing” underscore the government’s commitment to addressing the critical water needs of these regions. The successful implementation of the Yettinahole project will not only provide immediate relief but also pave the way for future water management initiatives in the state.

Conclusion
The Yettinahole project’s inauguration on Gowri Habba is a milestone in Karnataka’s efforts to resolve water scarcity issues in its central and southern districts. With the project set to provide 24.01 tmcft of water to over 6,600 villages, it represents a significant achievement in the state’s infrastructure development. As the people of Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Hassan, Ramanagara, and Bengaluru Rural districts prepare to benefit from this massive undertaking, the project stands as a testament to the government’s dedication to ensuring water security for its citizens.