Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 21: The Yettinahole project, one of the Karnataka government’s ambitious initiatives, is planned to be completed by the end of 2027, following which drinking water will be supplied to the targeted seven districts, said Water Resources minister N Cheluvarayaswamy.
The minister provided this information to Legislative Council member Ivan D’Souza.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change granted Stage-I approval for the integrated forest clearance proposal for the first phase of the project on April 1, 2026. Subsequently, on May 20, permission was granted for one year to undertake earthwork, excluding concreting works. Following the permission, the works have commenced.
The Madhugiri-Pavagada feeder, TG Halli-Ramanagara feeder and Gauribidanur feeder pipeline works, which branch off before the balancing reservoir, have been taken up in four packages. Of the total 254.97-km pipeline works, 249.21 km have been completed, while the remaining works are progressing at various stages.
As per the revised project report, instead of constructing the balancing reservoir near Bhairagondlu village in Koratagere taluk, it has been proposed to construct it near Lakkenehalli village in Doddaballapur taluk. The corporation’s board of directors has approved the proposal, and necessary steps are being taken to award the contract to the contractor, the minister said.
At the 33rd meeting of the board of directors held on November 6, 2025, approval was granted to prepare a detailed project report for constructing another balancing reservoir near Vaderahalli in Koratagere taluk, with a storage capacity of 1.20 TMC, along with the 1.38-TMC Lakkenehalli balancing reservoir.
The decision was taken considering the possibility of increased demand for drinking water in the coming years. Accordingly, tenders have been invited to appoint consultants for preparing the DPR.
After the balancing reservoir, the Kolar Lift Package-1 and Gravity Pipeline Package-2 works are progressing at various stages. Approvals are being granted for the alignment, design drawings and quality assurance plans for Kolar Gravity Pipeline Packages 3 and 4, as well as five packages for the construction of Kolar and Srinivaspur feeder pipelines.
The land acquisition process is also underway. Steps are being taken to enter into tripartite agreements with farmers and expedite the commencement of works.
The project has been taken up for implementation in phases through various packages since 2013-14. Delays in obtaining forest clearances, National Green Tribunal cases, National Highway permissions, Railway Department approvals, land acquisition and clearances from various other departments have contributed to the delay in implementation and completion of the project.
However, the government is persuading farmers and acquiring land through tripartite agreements to facilitate the implementation of the works, minister N Cheluvarayaswamy said.