Latest news with #Yettinahole
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Hassan DC holds preparatory meeting ahead of CM's visit to Arasikere on July 26
Hassan Deputy Commissioner K.S. Lathakumari, on Tuesday, held a meeting with officers on the preparations for the Chief Minister's scheduled visit to Arasikere on July 26, Saturday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate and lay foundation stone for several development projects in Arasikere during the visit. The DC told the officers to keep the helipad ready and ensure proper security for the programme venue. She instructed the officers of revenue, police, CESC and other departments to make proper arrangements for the smooth conduct of the programme. Arasikere MLA K.M. Shivalinge Gowda said that the CM will inaugurate the government engineering college, the road connecting Bandihally bypass to Jajuru bypass, government polytechnic college, swimming pool at Kantenahalli, commercial complex at market yard, and distribute houses constructed under the housing schemes to the beneficiaries, among other works in Arasikere. The CM will lay foundation stone for road works in Banavara and Gandasi hoblis, residential school, CESC works, construction of check dam as part of Yettinahole project and a few other works. Arasikere CMC president M. Samiulla, Zilla Panchayat CEO B.R. Poornima, SP Mohammed Sujeetha, Additional DC K.T. Shantala and others were present at the meeting.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka seeks financial assistance of ₹11,122 crore to complete six irrigation projects
Karnataka has sought financial assistance of ₹11,122 crore to complete six irrigation projects, including 25% financial assistance for the Yettinahole project, in the State, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the Major and Medium Irrigation portfolio, said on Wednesday. The State has sought ₹804.66 crore for the Sonnatti lift irrigation project, ₹2,666.7 crore for the Upper Krishna Project's Indi branch canal, ₹3,000 crore for the Malaprabha canal third stage, ₹3,000 crore for the Ghataprabha right bank canal, ₹1,444.42 crore for the Chikkodi branch canal project, and ₹1,610 crore for flood mitigation and management at Bennehalla. 'Of the six, we have information that one has been approved. However, we have not been officially informed about it,' the Deputy Chief Minister told presspersons in Delhi. When asked about the Upper Bhadra project, he said, 'The Centre had sought revised estimates, which have been submitted. Based on that, we have sought more than ₹5,300 crore, which had been sought before. So far, we have spent ₹10,604 crore on the project. The Centre has told us that the money would be released, but we are not sure until the money is credited.' Regarding approval for the Mekedatu drinking water project, the Deputy Chief Minister said the State has urged the Centre to give an appraiser's report and approve the detailed project report. 'We have urged the Centre to provide a report to the court... The Jal Shakti Minister has promised to speak to the Tamil Nadu government.' On the Yettinahole project, Mr. Shivakumar said, 'We have appealed to the Centre to consider it as a drinking water project and provide a financial assistance of 25%.' The work in Tumakuru and Hassan had been stopped, and farmers on whose land the project work is being undertaken have been compensated, he said. 'However, the Forest Department claimed the land to be theirs. Hence, alternative land has been given, and the Forest Department, which had to provide the clearance certificate, has not yet given it. The department has asked us transport soil some 25 km away from the worksite.'
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Karnataka CM buzz: DK Shivakumar says no cabinet reshuffle, meets Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and state deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. (ANI) NEW DELHI: Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said there is no plan to change the leadership or reshuffle the cabinet in the Congress-led state government. "No cabinet reshuffle is on the cards. Myself and the chief minister are meeting central ministers to discuss various state issues," Shivakumar told reporters. When asked about reports suggesting he may take over as chief minister after two and a half years of the government's term, Shivakumar said this was media speculation and clarified there is no such plan, news agency PTI reported. There has been ongoing speculation about a rotational chief minister arrangement between Shivakumar and chief minister Siddaramaiah after the Congress won the 2023 Assembly elections. Both leaders have publicly denied that any such agreement exists. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had also recently stated that there is no proposal for a reshuffle, and the media would be informed if a decision is made. Some ministers are reportedly being reviewed for performance and corruption issues, though the government or party leadership has not confirmed this. Meanwhile, D K Shivakumar also met senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at her residence in Delhi on Wednesday, fuelling speculation about leadership change in the state. However, Shivakumar remained tight-lipped about the details of the discussion. "I visited the place," he merely said, as quoted by news agency PTI. Shivakumar, who holds the water resources portfolio, said he met Union environment and jal shakti ministers on Tuesday to ask for clearances for several water projects, including the Yettinahole and Kalasa-Banduri projects. Speaking about the Yettinahole Integrated Water Supply Project, he said the Centre has paused work in Tumkur and Hassan districts due to forest land concerns. 'We have given alternative land and sought early forest clearance so that work can continue,' he said. The project aims to supply drinking water to around 75 lakh people across 6,657 villages and 38 towns in southern Karnataka. On the Kalasa-Banduri Project, he said the tender has been issued and early forest clearance is being requested. He added that the Goa government had issued a show cause notice in 2023 objecting to work in the Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary area. 'It is a drinking water project and will not affect Goa. Goa cannot dictate us. Let the central government decide this matter,' he said. He also said the Karnataka government is considering withdrawing a case in the Supreme Court on this matter and is seeking legal advice. Shivakumar further urged the Centre to issue a gazette notification for the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal verdict on river water allocation among Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. 'Twice the meeting was postponed without any reasons. I was told a meeting will be held this month on this issue,' he said.
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar seeks Centre's clearance for water projects
BENGALURU: Deputy CM and Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar, who was in New Delhi on Tuesday, met different Union ministers to get approval, clearance and grants for various water-related schemes, including the Mekedatu and Yettinahole projects. Submitting a memorandum, Shivakumar urged Union Minister for Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav to ensure in-principle approval at the earliest to the Yettinahole project. Shivakumar explained in his letter that the project will address drinking water needs of drought-prone areas, including Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Bengaluru South and North districts. There is a proposal to divert forest land in various villages of Tumakuru and Hassan districts which has been submitted to the environment ministry, he stated. Shivakumar also met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil for releasing central assistance to Upper Bhadra Project under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) - Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme(AIBP) scheme. He told the minister that acceptance/recommendations of different authorities of Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation of Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Finance have been received for the project. This will benefit farmers and populations of drought-prone districts of Central Karnataka region, he added.
Hans India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Setback for Yettinahole project as forest panel rejects extra land approval
Bengaluru: In a major setback for Karnataka's ambitious ₹23,000 crore Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Supply Project, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has refused to grant approval for an additional 423 acres of forest land that the state government sought for construction. The Yettinahole project aims to supply drinking water to the drought-prone districts of Karnataka's arid regions by diverting 24 TMC of water from the Western Ghats. The Karnataka government had in March submitted a fresh proposal requesting clearance to use an extra 423 acres of forest in Hassan and Tumakuru districts for constructing gravity canals. A team headed by DIGF Pranita Paul from the Ministry had already visited the site and flagged several violations. Their field inspection report made it clear that the additional diversion could only be permitted if the state rectified lapses and gave satisfactory explanations. However, when the Forest Advisory Committee met in Delhi on June 26 to discuss the proposal, the inspection team's report revealed that portions of forest land had already been used for project work without obtaining central clearance. The FAC noted this serious breach of norms and ordered that disciplinary action be initiated against government officials who allowed unauthorized use of forest land, and that penalties be imposed. As a result, the proposal was deferred to a future meeting, stalling the state's request for more land for now. This is not the first time the controversial project has come under scrutiny. Back in 2016, the Karnataka government had secured approval for 13.93 hectares of forest diversion, with 33 stringent conditions. However, an NGT-appointed monitoring team later found that most of these conditions were ignored. Their 2019 report highlighted massive soil erosion and landslides caused by construction, with no remedial measures undertaken. Moreover, the project is alleged to have illegally used additional forest land beyond the approved limits, damaging homes and livelihoods in affected villages, without providing any compensation to families. The project — which remains politically sensitive — has long faced criticism from environmentalists and affected communities for its potential to damage the fragile Western Ghats ecosystem and displace local populations, all for questionable drinking water returns downstream. With the FAC's refusal to clear further forest diversion and its insistence on disciplinary action against violating officials, the Karnataka government now finds itself in a tight spot. Officials must now address compliance failures, provide clear justifications, and satisfy the Centre that the remaining conditions will be met — or risk losing forest clearance altogether.
