New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday met Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to seek early in-principle clearance for the revised forest land diversion proposal under the Yettinahole project, which aims to supply drinking water to drought-prone areas of south Karnataka.
In the meeting, Shivakumar, who is also in charge of the water resources ministry, said the state government had on June 4 submitted a proposal to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) seeking green clearance for the diversion of 111.02 hectares (revised from 173.31 hectares) of forest land located in Tumkur and Hassan districts in favour of Visvesvaraya Jala Nigam Ltd.
The proposal was deliberated by the advisory committee of MoEF on June 24 and later on July 7, the Inspector General of Forests raised EDS (essential details sought), a formal process used by the Union ministry during the appraisal of projects that require environmental or forest clearances.
“Compliance to EDS is being prepared and will be submitted to Government of India for approval. We kindly request your intervention to ensure that in-principle stage one approval for Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water project is accorded at the earliest,” Shivakumar said in a representation made to the minister.
The Deputy CM said the implementation of the project would benefit 75.59 lakh people in seven districts, helping fill up 527 tanks to their 50 per cent capacity and recharging the groundwater table.
“About 60-70 per cent work of Yettinahole project is over. However, the forest department has stopped the project due to technical reasons. We have given them alternative land,” Shivakumar told reporters before the meeting.
The land acquired from farmers was not forest land. Since the forest department objected to it, the state government has given alternative land, he said, adding that the compensation to farmers has already been given.
The project work should continue as Rs 24,000 crore has already been invested, he added.
In a separate meeting, Shivakumar discussed with Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil the technical feasibility and water-sharing aspects of the Mekedatu project, a multi-purpose balancing reservoir planned near Kanakapura in Ramanagar district.
He urged Patil to direct the Central Water Commission (CWC) to prioritise this approval and also release Rs 5,200 crore for the project announced in the General Budget.
The CWC is the authority responsible for giving the technical note and appraisal on the Mekedatu project.
Shivakumar also discussed and emphasised the need to finalise the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT) award on water-sharing among the four riparian states — Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
“There is no Supreme Court order not to award it. We apprised him that twice the meeting was scheduled but due to some interference, I don’t know, it was postponed.
“We have requested again (to schedule a meeting). The minister has assured a meeting will be conducted as early as possible,” he said.
KWDT has been given an extension until July 31 to finalise its award.
Shivakumar also mentioned that before the monsoon session of Parliament, he would hold a meeting of the state MPs and central ministers in the national capital to apprise them about pending state projects and seek support for early clearance. PTI LUX LUX KSS KSS
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