5 days ago
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Karnataka has drawn a program to pump 2.5 tmcft of Cauvery h2o to concern areas successful and astir Bengaluru.
In a gathering successful Bengaluru connected Wednesday (May 20), Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil said the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had allocated 4 tmcft of h2o for concern purposes. Of this, lone 1.37 tmcft is presently being utilised, helium pointed out.
“A program has present been drawn up to pump 2.5 tmcft of h2o retired of the remaining 2.63 tmcft to concern areas successful and astir Bengaluru,” helium explained.
Enhanced storage
He explained that the authorities had prepared a program to heighten the retention capableness of the Agara and Madduru lakes successful Kollegal taluk of Chamarajanagar territory and to pump h2o from determination to proviso Cauvery stream h2o to concern areas astir Bengaluru.
He said that farmers successful the bid country who are presently cultivating lone 1 harvest would beryllium benefited by the project, which, if implemented, volition assistance them turn 2 crops a year.
“We are not utilizing the Cauvery h2o allocated for agriculture. Instead, we are utilising the h2o reserved for concern purposes. During the monsoon season, h2o volition beryllium pumped straight from the Cauvery stream for 120 days, portion during the remaining period, h2o volition beryllium drawn from these lakes. For this purpose, the retention capableness of the lakes volition beryllium accrued tenfold. This, successful turn, volition besides payment farmers,” helium said.
Meeting with farmers
The Minister held discussions with A.R. Krishnamurthy, Kollegal MLA, and sought to allay concerns related to the project. He besides directed the officials acrophobic to organise a gathering with farmers astatine the earliest.
Mr. Patil said that retention capacities of the Agara and Madduru lakes would beryllium enhanced from the contiguous 0.156 tmcft and 0.111 tmcft to 1.156 tmcft and 1.112 tmcft respectively. He clarified that lone the extent of these lakes would beryllium increased, and nary caller onshore acquisition would beryllium taken up successful the process of enhancing their capacities.
He further clarified that the task would not origin immoderate hardship to farmers successful the bid country of these lakes.
Mr. Patil said the Chikkahole and Suvarnamukhi lakes located downstream successful the portion would besides beryllium developed. Water successful these lakes would beryllium made disposable to farmers passim the twelvemonth for cultivation operations.
Urging farmers not to wage heed to rumours and misinformation, the Minister said the task would assistance amended groundwater levels and beforehand fisheries, boating, and tourism activities.
Cauvery Neeravari Nigam managing manager Mahesh said the locations of the Agara and Madduru lakes were ideally suited for creating the required h2o retention installation to proviso h2o to concern areas. He said the nonsubjective of the task would not beryllium efficaciously achieved if implemented elsewhere.
