Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Nov 4: Deputy chief minister and water resources minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said the Karnataka government is planning to establish a permanent Karnataka State Water Commission (SWC) on the lines of the Central Water Commission (CWC) to monitor and regulate the state’s water resources.

The proposed regulatory body, which will include irrigation experts, engineers, and government officials, is also expected to prepare a 50-year water security roadmap for Karnataka.

“A permanent water commission is needed to ensure accountability in terms of water use, monitoring irrigation projects, advising the government on inter-state river water disputes and other issues related to water resources, agriculture and the environment,” Shivakumar told reporters ahead of the release of his book, ‘Neerina Hejje’ (Foot Prints of Water).

He criticised existing bodies, stating, “There are some disparate bodies which are ineffective as they serve as rehabilitation centres for retired officials and judiciary members. The permanent water commission will play multiple roles as a monitoring, advisory and regulatory body.”

Shivakumar said he had extensively researched and documented the history of inter-state and international river water disputes in his book, which chief minister Siddaramaiah will release on Wednesday, November 5.

The government will introduce a bill to establish the SWC, which will be tasked with submitting reports on measures to ensure water availability in cities, including Bengaluru, for the next 50 years. The commission will also review irrigation patterns in the state and suggest ways to improve the water economy using modern technologies.

The SWC will also address climate change issues, with Shivakumar noting that the commission will study weather patterns and propose ways to increase the capacity of dams and reservoirs to manage excess rainfall.

“The SWC will also recommend measures to deal with droughts, propose new irrigation projects, develop water bodies, and improve natural water resources,” he added, emphasising the commission’s comprehensive role in securing Karnataka’s water future.