Karnataka: Experimental operation of Yettinahole drinking water project successful, says Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar

Hassan (Karnataka) [India], August 28 (ANI):Stating that the experimental operation of the Yettinahole drinking water project was successful, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday announced that the inauguration date for the much-awaited project would be announced soon.
Speaking after inspecting experimental operation of Yettinahole project at Kesavanahalli in Hassan district, he said, "Yettinahole is an ambitious project. I flagged off the experimental operation today. The work is now complete, albeit with a delay of a few months."
"Five of the eight barrages (viyars) are complete. About 1,500 cusecs of water has been lifted in the experimental operation. It will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister before the water levels drop. I came to see in person the completion of works," he said.
"This project will provide 24.01 TMC of drinking water to Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagar, Tumakuru, Hassan and Chikkamagalur districts. As many as 75.59 lakh people in 38 towns and 6,657 villages in 29 taluks will benefit from this project. As many as 527 tanks in the seven districts will be filled with 9.953 TMC of water. The Rs 23,251 crore project was delayed due to electrical glitches. Now, the project has reached final stages," he added.
Shivakumar said that in the project, 1,571 cusecs of water will be lifted from barrages 1, 2, 4, and 8 and supplied to barrage 3. The water from barrage 3 will be supplied to barrage 4 through gravitational force.
The project is 252.87 km long, of which 164 km of work is complete. Works on the 25.87-km canal are in progress. The works after 42nd km were affected due to a forest land acquisition issue and hence it has been planned to supply water to Vani Vilas Sagar through an escape canal, he said.
"There are land acquisition issues due to forest lands in some places and I will discuss the issues with the department and the CM. By the end of July 2024, we have completed works worth Rs 16,152 crores. We have made plans to complete the project by 2027.
"We are using German technology (Real Time Discharge Measurement) to measure the exact quantity of water that is flowing through the barrages. In the time period between June 1 and August 20, a total of 13.34 TMC of water flow has been recorded in the project," he said.
Asked about leakages in many places along the route, he said the issues would be sorted out soon. Replying to a query on allegations of unscientific excavations for the project, he said he will discuss the issue with those who have raised the issue. (ANI)