Former Minister Shashikant Naik and farmers leaders submitting a memorandum in Belagavi on Friday opposing plans to divert Ghataprabha river waters from Hidkal dam to Dharwad industrial areas.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The former Minister Shashikant Naik has written a letter to the State government asking it to drop plans to provide Ghataprabha river water diverting it from Belagavi district to industries in Dharwad district.

“Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board has begun laying pipes to carry water from Hidkal dam over the Ghataprabha to Dharwad industrial area. Work on digging channels and laying pipes for 80 km through farmland in Belagavi district has begun. This is an act of gross injustice. The State government has not only taken an unfair decision but it has also taken it unilaterally without taking local leaders into confidence. If this does not stop, we will have to take up an agitation against the decision,” he told reporters in Belagavi on Friday.

He suggested that the State government draw additional water from the Navilu Tirtha dam near Saundatti that is already supplying drinking water to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad. “Saundatti is also closer to Dharwad than Hidkal,” he said.

“If this project is implemented, it will lead to a shortage of drinking water in Hukkeri taluk and Belagavi city. Also, there will be great water scarcity for agricultural land in neighbouring Chikkodi and Gokak taluks and Bagalkot and Vijayapura districts. The State government should immediately stop this,” he said.

He called upon elected representatives in the three districts of Vijayapura, Bagalkot and Belagavi to oppose this.

“The Raja Lakhamagouda Reservoir built near Hidkal on the Ghataprabha river has a total impounding capacity of 51 tmcft. It supplies drinking water to Belagavi, Hukkeri and Sankeshwar towns and over 100 villages. These areas suffer drinking water scarcity during the summer months due to reduced inflows. If additional water is drawn from this dam on a daily basis for industries, it will significantly impact water supply for other causes, particularly drinking purposes. And, the worst affected will be the standing crop in the three districts in the north-west of the State,” he said.

He urged the State government to coordinate with the Union government to get all due clearances for the Mahadayi project and implement it in earnest. He recalled that he, in 2008 as district in-charge Minister, had invited then Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Irrigation Minister K.S. Eshwarappa to lay the foundation stone for the Mahadayi basin projects.

However, due to opposition from Goa, the project has not taken off even after 17 years. “I appeal to Pralhad Joshi, who is an influential Union Minister and BJP MP Jagadish Shettar, to use their good offices to speak to all leaders concerned to obtain necessary clearances for the Mahadayi basin projects.”

He warned the Central and State governments to take swift action to find a permanent solution to the problem of water supply to Dharwad or face the wrath of farmers. If the State government goes ahead with diverting Hidkal dam water to Dharwad, farmers organisations in Belagavi will have to take to the streets, he said.