Karnataka has drawn a plan to pump 2.5 tmcft of Cauvery water to industrial areas in and around Bengaluru.

In a meeting in Bengaluru on Wednesday (May 20), Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil said the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had allocated 4 tmcft of water for industrial purposes. Of this, only 1.37 tmcft is currently being utilised, he pointed out.

“A plan has now been drawn up to pump 2.5 tmcft of water out of the remaining 2.63 tmcft to industrial areas in and around Bengaluru,” he explained.

Enhanced storage

He explained that the government had prepared a plan to enhance the storage capacity of the Agara and Madduru lakes in Kollegal taluk of Chamarajanagar district and to pump water from there to supply Cauvery river water to industrial areas around Bengaluru.

He said that farmers in the command area who are presently cultivating only one crop would be benefited by the project, which, if implemented, will help them grow two crops a year.

“We are not using the Cauvery water allocated for agriculture. Instead, we are utilising the water reserved for industrial purposes. During the monsoon season, water will be pumped directly from the Cauvery river for 120 days, while during the remaining period, water will be drawn from these lakes. For this purpose, the storage capacity of the lakes will be increased tenfold. This, in turn, will also benefit farmers,” he said.

Meeting with farmers

The Minister held discussions with A.R. Krishnamurthy, Kollegal MLA, and sought to allay concerns related to the project. He also directed the officials concerned to organise a meeting with farmers at the earliest.

Mr. Patil said that storage capacities of the Agara and Madduru lakes would be enhanced from the present 0.156 tmcft and 0.111 tmcft to 1.156 tmcft and 1.112 tmcft respectively. He clarified that only the depth of these lakes would be increased, and no fresh land acquisition would be taken up in the process of enhancing their capacities.

He further clarified that the project would not cause any hardship to farmers in the command area of these lakes.

Mr. Patil said the Chikkahole and Suvarnamukhi lakes located downstream in the region would also be developed. Water in these lakes would be made available to farmers throughout the year for agricultural operations.

Urging farmers not to pay heed to rumours and misinformation, the Minister said the project would help improve groundwater levels and promote fisheries, boating, and tourism activities.

Cauvery Neeravari Nigam managing director Mahesh said the locations of the Agara and Madduru lakes were ideally suited for creating the required water storage facility to supply water to industrial areas. He said the objective of the project would not be effectively achieved if implemented elsewhere.