Latest news with #YettinaholeIntegratedDrinkingWaterSupplyProject
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.
Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bengaluru's drinking water crisis is due to delay in Mekedatu project clearance, Karnataka writes to Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil
Seeking early clearance for the implementation of the Mekedatu dam project, the Karnataka government has told Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil that the delay in the clearance has caused a drinking water crisis in Bengaluru. In a petition submitted by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to C R Paatil on Tuesday, the state government said that construction of the reservoir – which is opposed by Tamil Nadu – was permitted as per Clause XIII of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. Noting that the project was located 'well within the territorial limits of Karnataka', the petition said 'neither Karnataka nor Central government need to take the consent of the State of Tamil Nadu' for the project. It also cited a Supreme Court judgment to support this view. 'The Project, as planned, does not cause any prejudice or injury to the State of Tamil Nadu. In fact, it helps Tamil Nadu such that the water can be regulated to Tamil Nadu during distress year as per the monthly schedule of release of water,' the letter read. Karnataka argued that the climate extremes in the basin 'strengthen the demands of Karnataka' for early construction of the project. 'The delay in accordance of clearances by the Central Government has caused immense socio-economical losses/impact to the State of Karnataka including Drinking Water crisis in the Bengaluru Metropolitan city region,' it said. Shivakumar also submitted a petition to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav, seeking in-principle approval for the diversion of 111 hectares (around 274 acres) of forest land–partly situated in Hassan and Tumakuru districts–for the implementation of Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Supply Project. The land is for the construction of a gravity main canal that would provide drinking water in the villages of the two districts. The project aims to divert 24.01 thousand million cubic feet of water from streams in the Western Ghats to drought-prone areas such as Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Tumakuru, Hassan, and other districts.
