Upper Bhadra Project Milestone: Trial Water Flow Begins Towards Chitradurga, ₹21,500-Crore Project Targets 2.25 Lakh Hectares
Bengaluru: The Upper Bhadra Project crossed a major milestone on Sunday with the start of trial water flow from the Bhadra Reservoir into the Chitradurga branch canal, advancing a decades-old plan to provide irrigation and drinking water to drought-prone areas of Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Davanagere and Chikkamagaluru districts.
Tribal Welfare Minister and Chitradurga district in-charge Minister T. Raghumurthy formally launched the trial flow after performing a puja at the intake point of Lakavalli Dam in Tarikere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district.
Raghumurthy said the commencement of Bhadra water flow towards Chitradurga marked a historic stage in a project that people in drought-prone areas had awaited for five to six decades. He said the district’s long wait to overcome its drought-prone status had now entered its final phase.
The minister said the water released during the trial was expected to reach Gonur within a week. He also expressed confidence that water from the Tunga river, another major component of the Upper Bhadra Project, would begin flowing towards the district within the next two months.
Under the project, 17.4 TMC of water from the Tunga and 12.5 TMC from the Bhadra have been earmarked, taking the total allocation to 29.9 TMC.
The project, whose revised estimated cost stands at ₹21,500 crore, is expected to benefit 12 taluks across Chikkamagaluru, Tumakuru, Chitradurga and Davanagere districts. It is designed to provide irrigation facilities to approximately 2.25 lakh hectares and fill 367 tanks.
Raghumurthy said works connected with bringing 17.4 TMC of Tunga water were also progressing. Two remaining tower works are expected to be completed within the next two months, he said.
Tracing the project’s financial approvals, the minister said it had received support under governments led by different political parties. The project was initially approved at ₹2,814 crore, subsequently enhanced to ₹5,500 crore during the coalition government and to ₹12,500 crore during the Siddaramaiah government between 2013 and 2018. A revised approval of ₹21,500 crore was issued in 2022.
Raghumurthy said successive governments and political leaders had contributed to the project and stressed that its implementation had received support across party lines.
Around ₹11,500 crore has been spent on the project so far, he said, adding that works connected with filling tanks were under way.
The minister said implementation could have progressed faster if the ₹5,300 crore in financial assistance promised by the Union Government in the 2022-23 Budget had been released. He said the state was still awaiting the Central assistance.
Raghumurthy credited Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar with helping resolve several hurdles that had delayed the project. He recalled that Shivakumar had earlier visited the project site to address issues surrounding its implementation.
According to Raghumurthy, representatives and farmers in Davanagere and other areas dependent on the Bhadra Reservoir had expressed concerns over water availability and allocation. He said the Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, while considering the requirements of the four drought-prone districts, ensured equitable allocation of water.
Raghumurthy said there would be no politics over implementation of the Upper Bhadra Project and reiterated his commitment to ensuring its complete execution by 2028.
After Bhadra water reaches Chitradurga, a large public meeting and felicitation programme will be organised in the district to honour former Chief Ministers, senior leaders, farmers and others who contributed to the project, the minister said.
He said the programme would be organised on a non-partisan basis to acknowledge everyone whose efforts contributed to advancing the long-pending project.
Senior Delhi Special Representative and Sira MLA T.B. Jayachandra, Tarikere MLA Srinivas, Hosadurga MLA B.G. Govindappa, Holalkere MLA Dr M. Chandrappa, Chitradurga MLA K.C. Veerendra Pappi, Karnataka Safai Karmachari Commission Chairman P. Raghu, District Guarantee Schemes Authority Chairman Ganjigatte Shivanna, elected representatives and senior officials were present.
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