K.J. George with officials at the Jog Falls development review meeting in Bengaluru. Photograph supplied.
Bengaluru: A proposal to pump water to the top of Jog Falls and release it during fixed periods throughout the year will undergo a detailed assessment of water requirements, electricity consumption and operating costs, with Minister K.J. George directing officials to submit a technical feasibility report before a final decision.
The proposal is intended to let visitors experience the waterfall beyond the monsoon season. At a review meeting at the Tourism Department office in Energy Bhavan on Wednesday, George called for faster progress on development works at Jog Falls and on the technical scrutiny and approvals required for the proposed water-release arrangement.
The plan remains under examination. The minister said a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister would be convened soon to take a final decision, taking technical feasibility, power costs and safety into account.
Water, pumping capacity and running costs under scrutiny
Officials have been asked to examine how much water the arrangement would require, the pumping capacity needed to lift it to the top of the falls, electricity consumption and maintenance expenditure. The intention is to provide water flow during specified periods across the year, rather than announce continuous round-the-clock releases.
George directed officials to expedite the relevant approvals at the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) and Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) levels.
In view of concerns over the availability of electricity at night, he also sought an assessment of alternatives such as solar power and pumped-storage arrangements, including their technical feasibility and financial implications. No particular alternative was announced as the selected option.
Development works and visitor safety to move together
George said the aim was to develop Jog Falls as a destination that attracts visitors throughout the year, without limiting its tourism potential to the rainy season. He asked officials to accelerate ongoing works while avoiding unnecessary delays in obtaining approvals.
Officials were told to work out suitable arrangements for visitors to view the falls during fixed morning and evening periods. The minister also directed strict compliance with rules governing visitor entry and security after 5 pm or 6 pm. The review did not announce a final public viewing timetable.
Necessary no-objection certificates and approvals, including those from the archaeology department and other relevant agencies, should be secured, he said. Development works should be completed within the stipulated timelines through coordination with the Jog Management Authority and Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR).
Phased implementation tied to feasibility and approvals
Tourism Department Secretary Dr. Ram Prasath Manohar said development works, the water-release system and visitor safety needed to be considered together to make Jog Falls a year-round attraction.
Coordination among KPCL, the Jog Management Authority, JLR and other departments would be based on the project’s technical and financial feasibility, he said. Steps would be taken to implement the plan in phases after obtaining the necessary approvals, with the aim of providing visitors a better and safer experience.
Energy Department Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta, KPCL Managing Director Rajendra Cholan, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Shivaprasad P.R. and senior officials from the energy and tourism departments attended the meeting.
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