Bantwal: Check-dams Across Netravati: Threat to Irrigation?
Report and Pics by Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (RD)
Bantwal, Jun 1: The flow in Netravati river, the lifeline of the coastal district, has been receding over the years. It was flowing with abundant water that irrigated thousands of hectares of farmlands along its winding path throughout the year. One of the reasons for the receding of flow in Netravati is the construction of several check-dams along its path.
Neerakatte Sagar Power Project:
A check-dam has been built by Sagar Power Project at Neerakatte, near Uppinangady across Netravati river that flows towards Mangalore from the direction of Dharmasthala. Although the company has plans to generate electricity all year round, due to the receding water flow the company is able to produce electricity for only about four to five months in a year. The company has so far generated 3 to 4 ten lac units of electricity.
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) check-dam:
MRPL has built a check-dam across Netravati River at Perla in Sarapady village. MRPL has been pumping the water from the check-dam to its mega facilities at Kuttettoor, Mangalore for its year-round requirement. Although the local farmers are not allowed to draw water from Netravati river during summer by Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), MRPL has not been restrained in drawing the water despite the receding flow in Netravati.
Shamboor AMR Power Project:
AMR Power Project has built a check-dam at Shamboor across Netravati where it is flowing downstream. AMR Power Project invested Rs 150 crore on this hydel project and began generating electricity since September 2009. It has been generating power only 6 months a year, especially during monsoon season, due to the receding water flow. As per the company’s records, it had begun operation during September 2009 and temporarily shut down during January 2010, resumed in June 2010 and temporarily shut down again in January 2011. It has so far generated a total of 13 ten lac units of electricity and sold the same to KPTCL.
Thumbe vented dam:
MCC had long ago laid a vented dam at Thumbe across the Netravati river that flows towards Mangalore, installing pump-houses and water treatment plant to supply drinking water to the city. Meanwhile, the work on the new vented dam is also under way, with a purpose of supplying round-the-clock water to citizens.
The Netravati river that passes through all these major check-dams flows with a trickle. The politicians and peoples’ representatives have aggressive plans to divert the Netravati River by joining 13 rivulets in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, in order to irrigate the farmlands by supplying the water in canals, since the major share of water is wasted as it joins the Arabian Sea. However, there has been opposition to the proposed diversion as it’s likely to damage the ecology.
The intervention in natural resources may lead to serious consequences that may arise in the form of natural calamities. The Netravati river does not maintain its regular flow throughtout the year, and if the existing situation continues, the city may face acute shortage of potable water.