Karnataka: River diversion move annoys DK activists

MANGALURU: Activists are annoyed over confusing moves by the authorities concerned to divert one west-flowing rivulet to the east, and to pump an east flowing rivulet to the west in Western Ghats!

“I am unable to understand the logic behind these moves. On one hand, the government has started work on diversion of west flowing Yettinahole rivulet (tributary of Netravati) to eastern districts like Kolar and Chikkaballapur. At the same time, Mangaluru City Corporation wants to get water from the east flowing Lakya (a tributary of Bhadra) to the west and supply it to Mangaluru. This is a crazy move,” activist M.G. Hegde told DC.

“Instead of stopping diversion of Netravati, MCC wants to get water from an east-flowing river,” he said, raising doubts that the move to get water from Lakya rivulet (from Lakya dam in Kudremukh) could be objected to by Andhra Pradesh. “MCC wants to draw 5 MGD water per day from Lakya Dam. But the question is if this is practical as it might affect the interstate water sharing (Krishna River Tribunal Award) between Karnataka and AP. Water of Lakya Dam joins the Bhadra, a tributary of the  Krishna. Andhra Pradesh might object if five million gallons of water (about a quarter TMC feet a year) are pumped everyday from Lakya to Mangaluru City,” he added.

Mr Hegde said “This is an illogical move by the government. Instead of diversions, the government should concentrate on increasing the ground water level. The state government wants to divert water from one side to another which is very unscientific. Instead, the government should take steps to recharge the ground water in particular borewells.”