Bengaluru: Karnataka water resources minister N Cheluvarayaswamy has directed officials to expedite work related to the Mekedatu project and ensure that irrigation and drinking water issues under the Cauvery Irrigation Corporation are addressed promptly.
Reviewing the corporation’s progress at the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam conference hall in Bengaluru, Cheluvarayaswamy warned that officials found negligent in their duties would face suspension. He asked officials to visit the field and listen to farmers’ problems instead of relying on assessments from their offices.
Focus on dam maintenance
The minister directed officials to provide details on reservoir levels, dead storage, water released to Tamil Nadu, flows recorded at Biligundlu and the status of command areas twice a day.
He also asked them to take precautionary measures to ensure drinking water availability through the summer. Of the 23 minor dams under the corporation, Mandegere and Hemagiri are old and in need of repairs. Officials were told to prepare estimates immediately and take steps to prevent water leakage.
Cheluvarayaswamy also directed officials to complete the remaining 32-km stretch required to carry Hemavathi water through Kunigal to Huliyurdurga at the earliest.
Mekedatu project to be expedited
The minister said around 112.88 TMC of additional Cauvery water had flowed into the sea over the past five years. He said the Mekedatu project was needed to improve water management during droughts and create at least 22 TMC of drinking water storage capacity.
He said clarifications sought by Tamil Nadu on water releases had been provided through an SOP and that the issue had been resolved. The Central Water Commission had also responded positively, he added.
Cheluvarayaswamy said the chief minister would lead a delegation to meet the Union Jal Shakti minister and, with the support of Karnataka MPs, explain the benefits of the Mekedatu project to the Prime Minister.
The government aims to begin construction once alternative land is secured for the area that would be submerged and complete the project within three years. Officials were also asked to digitise all documents related to the project immediately.
Equal allocation of irrigation works
To avoid discrimination in development works, the minister said two to three irrigation projects would be allocated to each MLA on an equal basis, irrespective of political pressure.
He directed officials to complete pending works in the Harangi and Kabini areas and expedite water flow through the express canal under the Sriranga lift irrigation project so that expenditure already incurred on it is put to use.
Officials were asked to hold discussions with elected representatives and explain the importance of the projects, while ensuring that no project is stalled due to political pressure.
Police protection for lake filling
The minister directed officials to reserve 20% of available water for drinking purposes and release water to lakes in the Tumakuru, Basaralu and Nagamangala areas once every three days.
He said police protection could be provided, if required, to ensure that lakes and tanks are filled.
A separate meeting with the finance department would be held to address funding for dam rehabilitation and other essential works, he said.
Cheluvarayaswamy also said 57% of vacant posts in the corporation would be filled soon. He backed officials’ proposal to establish a commissionerate covering all water corporations under the control of the water resources minister.
Cauvery basin covers 11 districts
The Cauvery basin covers 34,273 sq km across 11 districts. As per the tribunal award, the target is to provide irrigation to 18.85 lakh acres, including 15.55 lakh acres under major and medium irrigation and 3.30 lakh acres under minor irrigation.
The minister stressed the need to properly implement, modernise and maintain all projects under the corporation and ensure that no works remain incomplete.
Government secretary Kulkarni, Cauvery Irrigation Corporation managing director Mahesh and senior engineers attended the meeting.
