Bengaluru: Chikkaballapur MP Dr K. Sudhakar has urged the state government not to abandon the original plan for the Byragondlu reservoir under the Yettinahole project, saying a larger reservoir with a storage capacity of at least 5 to 6 TMC is essential for reliable, year-round water supply to the drought-prone districts of Chikkaballapur, Kolar and Bengaluru Rural.
He made the remarks on November 7 at a review meeting with officials of Visvesvaraya Jala Nigama Limited on the progress of the project, land acquisition bottlenecks, funding needs and steps to speed up delivery of water to the eastern districts.
Sudhakar directed officials to accelerate pending works, ensure timely release of funds and clear outstanding payments to contractors so that construction does not suffer. He also called for fast-tracking land acquisition, saying people in the region have waited for the project for years and the current drought has worsened the water crisis.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, he expressed concern over the government’s move away from the original Byragondlu design, which envisaged 6 TMC of storage, towards a much smaller reservoir at Lakkenahalli in Doddaballapur with a capacity of just 1.6 to 1.8 TMC.
“This is a serious concern for the farmers of three districts. The original design envisaged a reservoir capable of storing 6 TMC of water, which could have ensured a dependable supply throughout the year. By drastically reducing the storage capacity, the government is compromising the very purpose of the project. The original Byragondlu reservoir plan must be restored, and adequate storage capacity must be ensured,” he said.
He said the region’s dependence on rainfall and borewells has become increasingly unsustainable, with groundwater levels falling and even treated wastewater from the HN Valley and KC Valley projects proving insufficient for growing agricultural needs. The Yettinahole project, initiated in 2014 when he was MLA, was meant to be a permanent drinking water and irrigation solution for Chikkaballapur, Kolar and Bengaluru Rural, but remains incomplete after 12 years, he said.
Chikkaballapur and Kolar lie at the tail end of the project and are particularly vulnerable to delays and inadequate storage, he said. While the government has indicated that water supply could begin next year, that would be possible only if land acquisition and pending works are completed on a war footing, he cautioned.
“A smaller reservoir may help the government claim that the project has been completed quickly, but it will not serve the long-term interests of farmers,” Sudhakar said, adding that the government must take farmers of Doddaballapur, Koratagere and other affected areas into confidence and find a lasting solution through changes to the land acquisition framework.
Questioning the overall water allocation, he said regions including Madhugiri, Koratagere, Tumakuru, Pavagada, Arsikere, Kadur and Belur lie along the project route, while Chikkaballapur’s Bagepalli and Chintamani taluks and Kolar district are at the tail end. With a proposed allocation of 24.1 TMC across these regions, he questioned whether adequate supply was feasible. “Over the past two years, the water availability has been only around 7–8 TMC,” he said, calling for a realistic assessment that clearly specifies how much water each district will receive, especially in years of poor rainfall.
He also raised concern over the shortage of land acquisition officers, saying a single Special Land Acquisition Officer for three districts would considerably delay the process, and suggested empowering the respective Assistant Commissioners to carry out acquisition.
Political announcements alone will not complete the project without adequate funds, he said. “During the BJP government’s tenure, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic, nearly ₹9,000 crore was allocated to the project,” he said, adding that contractors cannot be expected to keep working when their bills remain unpaid.
Visvesvaraya Jala Nigama Managing Director Ramendra and other officials attended the meeting.
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