Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 25: State minister for urban development, Vinay Kumar Sorake, said that the government is seriously considering early implementation of 'Paschima Vahini' project to offset the opposition Yettinahole project is encountering from people living in Karnataka coast.

Addressing a press conference at Vikasa Soudha here on Tuesday December 23, Sorake analyzed that once approved, Paschima Vahini project will mitigate drinking water problem of Dakshina Kannada district. 'This will in turn, defuse the opposition to Yettinahole project,' he analyzed.

Sorake said that since many years,there have been demands for implementing Paschima Vahini project, which once executed, will help in making irrigation projects in the coast viable. 'This project, which requires an investment of Rs 1,000 crore, has already received in-principle nod of the chief minister. It will be moved in the cabinet meeting,' he stated.

He informed that the project envisages construction of several water reservoirs, which in turn, will enrich underground water table. As such, opposition for Yettinahole project will fade, he felt.

He said he had observed people of Kolar and Chikballapur districts suffering because of shortage of water. He also expressed anger at the wrong information being spread by some people, who have wrongly been terming Yettinahole project as Netravati River Diversion Project. 'Water flowing into River Kumaradhara is being used for this project, not from Netravati,' he clarified.

He expressed happiness at the hard work being put in by irrigation minister, M B Patil, towards convincing people of Dakshina Kannada district about the fact that Yettinahole project will not harm their interests.