Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Aug 31: Bengaluru development minister, K J George, said at Bengaluru that the question of implementing the scheme of collecting fresh water from rivers which join the sea near the city and pump it to Bengaluru will be decided and a final decision would be taken after holding discussions with people's representatives of Dakshina Kannada district, fishermen organizations and citizens organizations.

He was speaking to media persons on Wednesday, August 30.

"Water Board has already prepared feasibility report on building dams across rivers at the points where they meet the sea and bringing water from there to Bengaluru. Discussions will be based on this report," he clarified.

He noted that in the past, when Yettinahole project implementation was taken up, it had encountered strong opposition in coastal area. "To ensure that the current project does not face such problem, we plan to explain the entire scheme through a presentation before district in-charge minister, people's representatives, fishermen's organizations, representatives of citizens organizations etc. The government wants to get concurrence from all the parties concerned before implementing the project," he added.

George said that such schemes of collecting fresh water and supplying to cities have become successful in countries like Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Netherland etc. "One such effort is being made in Gujarat, and we too want to execute such a project through Water Board," he said.

Prof T G Seetharam of Indian Institute of Science had prepared a report on the scheme. As per the report, on an average, 350 tmc of water from River Netravati reaches the sea. By collecting this fresh water before it pours into sea, 22 tmc of water is planned to be pumped to Bengaluru annually, based on this report. Seetharam, the minister said, has agreed to explain the entire project with presentation in the presence of all concerned.