Bhadra water reaches drought-prone ‘Kote Nadu’

Chitradurga: For the first time, water from the Bhadra River has begun flowing towards Chitradurga district under the Upper Bhadra Project, bringing cheer to farmers in one of Karnataka’s most drought-prone regions. However, the release of 3 tmc ft of water is currently only on a trial basis, with several components of the project still incomplete.Work on the Upper Bhadra Project began in 2008 and has been progressing slowly for 18 years. The trial run is being conducted despite works remaining incomplete at several places. The drip irrigation, lift irrigation, Tumakuru Branch Canal (TBC) and Jagalur Branch Canal (JBC) works are yet to be completed. However, the Chitradurga Branch Canal (CBC) has been completed.The Upper Bhadra Project has faced various challenges, including doubled costs, shortage of funds from the Centre, forest department approval issues, a series of court cases, construction of a pump house in the forest, challenges in power supply, the tunnel route and objections from Davangere farmers.A canal has been constructed for 114 km from the Bhadra reservoir. Through two state-of-the-art pump houses, water is lifted 45 metres each, brought down 150 feet and then gushes into a delivery chamber before flowing forward by gravity. The Ajjampura tunnel is the longest in the state. The Gonuru aqueduct is the tallest in the country, standing tall at 120 feet.Sanehalli Panditaradhya Shivacharya Swamiji and Marulasiddha Swamiji of Shivamogga Basava Kendra along with the villagers welcome the Bhadra water near Shantipura in Tarikere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district.District Irrigation Committee leader J Yadavareddy said that the Bhadra water is flowing towards Chitradurga as a result of the committee’s three-year struggle. The trial release of water has given farmers hope.”Permission has been granted to release 3 tmc ft of water on a trial basis. Water will not be released into the lakes at present,” said Visvesvaraya Jal Nigam Chief Engineer H Ravishankar.Irrigation Struggle Committee leader Eechaghatta Siddhaveerappa said that the people are happy that water is now flowing towards Chitradurga district. He said that there is no surprise in this. Siddhaveerappa claimed that the Congress-led state government may have released water keeping the Hiriyur by-election in mind. “The government has been saying for the past two years that it would release water. Had it been released in May or June, the region could have been freed from drought,” he opined.H Ravishankar, Visvesvaraya Jal Nigam Chief EngineerPermission has been granted to release 3 tmc ft of water on a trial basis. Water will not be released into the lakes at present.

Source: Deccan Herald