Ivan D’Souza takes govt. to task over delay in Yettinahole project

Ruling Congress member Ivan D’Souza expressed strong objection in the Legislative Council to the delay in the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Supply Project. “Even after 12 years since the project began, it has not been completed. This shows the irresponsibility of the government and the officials,” he said.

Raising the issue in the Legislative Council, he said that the Yettinahole project, which aims to divert 24.01 tmcft of water from streams flowing west of the Sakleshpur area, was approved in July 2012 to meet the drinking water needs of Kolar, Chickballapur and other drought-hit areas.

“The project cost, which was initially ₹8,323.50 crore, increased to ₹12,912.36 crore in 2014 and to ₹23,251.66 crore in 2023. None of the initial Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) specified a completion date for the project. The estimated cost of the project is now around ₹30,000 crore,” he said.

The project cost is increasing year after year, but not a drop of water has reached its destination so far, he said.

“The availability of the required water from this project is uncertain. The major problem here is the lack of coordination between planning, land acquisition, financing, storage infrastructure and implementation of the canal network. As a result, a significant amount of expenditure has been incurred without the intended benefits of drinking water supply being realised. The government has set a date of November 2026 to release water to Tumkuru. But the project will not be completed by then,” he said.

Meanwhile, House leader Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who replied on behalf of the Water Resources Minister, said project works are being undertaken in 54 packages, out of which 20 package works have been completed, while the remaining package works are at various stages of progress.

“The project is being implemented in a phased manner from 2013-14. The implementation of the project has been hampered by delays in obtaining forest clearance, National Green Tribunal (NGT) approvals, National Highways clearances, Railway Department clearances, land acquisition processes and other departmental approvals,” he said.

However, the land acquisition process is being carried out by convincing farmers and acquiring land through tripartite agreements. The project is an ambitious initiative of the government and will be completed on priority by the end of 2027, with drinking water being supplied to the targeted seven districts, he assured.