Daijiworld Media Network - Hassan (SP)

Hassan, Apr 12: A sum of Rs 1,800 crore has already been spend for the Yettinahole project being executed at a cost of Rs 12,900 crore for transporting water from Malnad region to parched districts in the plains.

Karnataka Legislature Assurances Committee expressed the hope in the state assembly on Tuesday April 11 that the work of lifting water through pump houses might begin by the end of December.

The committee chaired by K N Rajanna, with MLAs, Laxman Savadi, Chikkamadu, S T Somashekhar, and H K Kumaraswamy as its members, visited Kumbaradi coffee estate in Kesaganahalli village in Sakleshpur taluk, Maranahalli Kadumane Estate, and Hebbasale where Yettinahole project works are on. The committee also checked the pump house works undertaken in Doddanagara village in the taluk and other works at Hebbanahalli village on Tuesday April 11.

Addressing a meeting convened in a private hotel in the town before the committee went for spot inspection, Rajanna stated that 70 percent of the first phase of Yettinahole project works have been completed and engineers have given the opinion that water can be pumped from check dams by December end.

"As per the study conducted by experts from the state and centre, water flowing through streams, rivulets, rivers, etc in Malnad area have been calculated and it is estimated that 24 tmc water would be available from this project. If this water is used to fill lakes and ponds in the plains for drinking purpose, it is hoped that the situation there will improve, he stated.