Mangalore: Yettinahole project - Dakshina Kannada's lifeline under threat?
Deekshith D V
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Sep 18: The people of the erstwhile undivided Dakshina Kannada district lived at the foot hills of the Western Ghats with about 10 lac farmers depending on the Netravati river basin for their livelihood. ‘Netravati’ is a river which has various tributaries that flow from the Western Ghats and gather at certain points. It later takes the form of a full-fledged river which flows into the sea while quenching the thirst of the people of Dakshina Kannada.
The story starts here. The state government, in an attempt to solve the water scarcity problem in Kolar and Chikkaballapur, came up with the scheme of diverting the streams that merge with the Netravati river, intentionally avoiding the name Netravati although and calling it ‘Yettinahole Project’.
What is Yettinahole project?
It is nothing but a scheme for diversion of flood waters from Sakleshpur (West) to Kolar/Chikkaballapur (East) districts.
According to S G Mayya, professor for water resource engineering, NITK Surthkal, “The project will be carried out in two phases.
In Phase I: Five weirs (low dams) will be constructed to streams, known as Yetthinahole weir 1, Yettinahole tributary 1 weir 2, Yettinahole tributary 2, weir 3, Kadumanehole 1 weir 4, Kadumanehole 2 weir 5, with total catchment area of 87 sq km. From these 5 weirs, 12 tmc water will be collected.
In Phase II: Three weirs constructed to streams known as Kerihole weir 6, Hongada Halla weir 7, Yetinahole d/s weir 8. Here catchment area will be 90 square km. A total of 12 tmc water will be collected from these weirs."
He also asserts, “In Phase I, weir 1 is considered as the main weir from which water is lifted outside the basin. From weir 2, water will be lifted to a height of 172m to deliver chamber 1. In weirs 3, 4 and 5 water will be lifted to heights of 155m, 55m, and 105m respectively to deliver chamber 2. It is also said that water from delivery chambers 1 and 2 will be diverted to weir 1, through a natural stream.
Water collected in weir 1 is lifted to Doddanagar delivery chamber near Sakleshpur, and from Doddanagar to Haravanahalli chamber through a height of 45 and a rising main of length 7.88km. In Phase II water from Kerihole, Hongadahalla and Yettinahole d/s weirs will be lifted to delivery chamber 3 which will be at Doddanagara.”
On May 19, 2013, EI Technologies Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, submitted a feasibility report to Karnataka Niravari Nigama Limited.
Fooling the people?
The previous government initiated this project and the present government is continuing the process. The people who rely on the Netravati river basin do not have authentic information about this project and the government has not taken the people of the Netravati river basin into confidence. Though the streams which are to be diverted join the Netravati, the name ‘Netravati’ has been avoided deliberately to mislead the people. Even the streams Yettinahole, Kerihole, Hongadahalla, and Kadumanehalla are Netravati river tributaries.
Fact is, the water lifted from the streams near the Western Ghats fills 198 tanks in Chikkaballapur and 139 tanks in Kolar. Apart from this, water is also made to feed various tanks of selected towns in Hassan district, Chikmagalur, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Madhugiri, Pavagada and Koratagere, Chamarajasagar reservoir, and Devanahalli industrial area, states the report. It is learnt from the report the project aims to not only solve the scarcity of drinking water, but even to rejuvenate rivers like Arkavathi, Palar, Jayamangali, Kushvathi, Uttara Pinakini, Dakshina Pinakini, Chitravathi, and Papanashini.
Effect on ecology
Western Ghats ecology expert panel headed by Prof Madhav Gadgil submitted a report to the ministry of environment and forests, Government of India, on August 31, 2011. Gadgil, in his report, clearly termed the Western Ghats as ‘ecologically sensitive’. Gadgil even advised the government to declare the entire Westen Ghats as an ecologically sensitive area.
Western Ghats consists of forests where various kinds of species dwell. Western Ghats has a prosperous biodiversity. Rivers are the oxygen to this region that help the various species to exist. These flowing rivers nurture the living habitats, and eco-tone regions where high biodiversity exists. Forest ecosystems act as sponges during rainfall by absorbing water through root systems. Water is stored in porous forest soils and debris, and then is gradually released into surface and groundwater.
Through these processes, forests recharge groundwater supplies, maintain base flow, stream levels, and lower peak flows during heavy rainfall. Western Ghats is home to most significant 138 endemic species. There are various kinds of trees, birds, and animals dwell in this region. Moreover, numerous east flowing rivers originate from the foot hills of the Western Ghats.
Importance of rivers
According to environmentalist Prof N H Madhyastha, “Rivers flow in various motions. In some places it ripples, it will be stagnant, and in some places it flows very steeply. This is nothing but to create a micro atmosphere for living habitats of particular regions.
"There are organisms that even flow against the water current. These organisms are adapted to the unique ecosystem. In the region of the Western Ghats there are 179 types of amphibians. River water is essential and useful to each and every living organism. Especially the river eco-tone (edges) region has various animals, birds, and micro living organisms like fish, spider, dragon fly, and snails dependent on it. Trees in this eco-tone region help to stabilize the environment equilibrium,” he said.
“If reservoirs are built then water will start to flow in a razor edge effect. This will be harmful to these organisms. The river mouth is also called the cradle of fish breeding. There are also chances of the salt proportion increasing and this will affect the aquatic ecosystem. Unless these environmental issues are answered through environmental impact assessment by a competent autonomous body, this project should not be taken up,” he added.
Human intervention in elephant corridor
Already there is an ongoing conflict between elephant and man. According to experts, if this project is implemented or weirs are built the elephant corridor will be blocked. Once again, man will have to face the wrath of wild animals because of the vested interests of a few politicians.
Although the government has taken huge projects like diversion of the river, our forest department has no authentic information about the harm that the project can cause to the Western Ghats environment or about the total number of trees that will be cut down.
Dinesh Holla, convener of Vanaya Charana Balaga, who has 17 years experience in trekking, says, “Western Ghats constitutes of Shola forest and grassland. In this, there are several micro organism which play magnificent roles in preserving the ecosystem. There are 129 types of various ants and termites which help the land to absorb the water and play the role of sponge, which helps waterfalls to maintain equilibrium during hot summer. Diversion of river is to kill a river.”
Already in the region of Yettinahole, a 4 km road has been built. Netravati river basin people are being neglected. People of Netravati river basin hardly get rain fall for 100 days. More than 180 days in the year, there is a shortage of water. What steps has the government taken to meet the water shortage in the basin? Has it planned any alternative measures to provide water during the summer when the city and district face water scarcity?
Pathetic condition of farmers
Generally, people of Dakshina Kannada depend on three crops. First crop depends on monsoon rain. The second crop is partially affected by water scarcity and for the third crop there is lack of water resources. Once this project is completed, the farmer will have to face water scarcity. There is no proper estimation of water demand of the coastal area for various uses like drinking purposes, irrigation, industries, and the city’s use.
The Paramasivaiya Report
Paramasivaiya had proposed two schemes for diversion of Netravati River Water in 2001.
Scheme 1: Scheme for diversion of Netravati river water to North and East. Mainly to supply water to Chikmagalur, Chitradurga, Bellary, Davangere, and Tumkur districts in which he expected 51.73 tmc water within a catchment area of 212 sq km by constructing the Garland Canal along 298 km of the Western Ghats.
Scheme 2: Diversion of Netravati river water to the east for drinking water and ground water recharge. In this scheme, total 90.73 tmc water was to be diverted from the Netravati river, 20.80 tmc through Garland Canal, 35.79 through constructing 27 reservoirs, and 14.14 by interconnecting canals.
According to experts, this scheme of diverting the Netravati river was totally unscientific and economically not viable. Already, the Western Ghats is being exploited by mining, encroachment, and deforestation.
However, it is learnt that the government, without preparing the DPR (detailed project report) has reserved funds for the project in the recent budget. It has also announced initiation of the tender process.
Reactions
“Government should follow the legal procedure while starting any project. The government should organize a public hearing to brief people about the project, especially for people who are affected the most. Environment Impact Assessment should be done to study the possible impact of this project. According to Indian Forest Policy each state should have 30% land but Karnataka has only 19% of forest land,” said Kishore, president of Malanadu Janapara Horata Samiti.
Umesh, a resident of Goddu village expressed concerns on the man-elephant conflict and said, “Because of Hemavathi Dam and various mini hydel projects, the elephant corridor has been seriously affected. Due to this, man-elephant conflict has increased in the villages of Sakleshpur. People fear to walk out after 5 pm. If this project is implemented, we will have to face elephant attacks more often.”
Though the monsoon has not completely ended, the flow of river Netravati has already become weak. Some place have even dried up. If this is the condition now, what about summer? Mangalore city is developing day by day, the thirst of the entire Mangalore city is quenched by Netravati river.
Response of representatives
The people's representatives who won from Dakshina Kannada were either not available for comment, or knew very little about the project. The people of the Netravati basin too are not aware about the scheme. It is high time the governements, irrespective of political parties, stopped considering the coastal region as a laboratory for experiments.
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