Will Yettinahole leave Dakshina Kannada, Hassan dry?
Officials allay fears of reduced inflow into river Netravathy
Hassan: Despite, officials allaying fears of reduced inflow into river Netravathy if the Yettinahole Drinking Water project is implemented, activists in both Hassan and Dakshina Kannada districts continue to oppose the state government’s proposed project saying the survival of river Netravathy and Western Ghats hinges on stopping the Yettinahole project.
Under the project, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) officials plan to divert 24 TMC of water from the streams of Yettinahole, Hongadahalla and Kerihole in Sakleshpur of Hassan and divert it to Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru among other places in the eastern part of the State.
On fears expressed by residents in Dakshina Kannada, Managing Director of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited, Rudraiah told Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday that “Diverting about 24 TMC of water from river Kumaradhara valley would not affect the flow of river Netravathy. It is because river Netravathy catchments water yield is about 400 TMC and diverting about 24 TMC would in no way affect residents of Dakshina Kannada.”
Explaining the effect of Yettinahole project, Dr Niranjan Rai, convenor of Netravathy Nadi Tiruvu Virodhi Horata Samiti, Uppinangadi in Dakshina Kannada, observed that the water flow in Netravathy is getting weak and by executing Yettinahole project, inflow of water into the river would come down drastically in the coming years since Yettinahole streams among others are Netravathy’s tributaries.