Bengaluru: Even as farmers from water-deprived districts like Kolar, Chikkaballapur staged stir in Bengaluru, which turned violent, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday refused to set any deadline to complete the work on the much-delayed Yettinahole project, to provide drinking water to five districts.

Instead, he announced setting up of an experts’ committee to explore the possibility of bringing water from various sources including Sharavathi in Linganamakki, Krishna basin, Mekedatu and the Koramangala-Challaghatta valley of Bengaluru to the water-parched districts around Bengaluru.

He has also announced setting up of an exclusive board to monitor irrigation and water projects in the plain land and central Karnataka regions – Bayaluseeme and Madhyama Karnataka Nigama – and two committees for monitoring the Yettinahole project.

These announcements were made by Siddaramaiah on Sunday at a meeting with representatives of farmers and politicians, including MLAs and MPs.

Siddaramaiah said that since Yettinahole is a mega project, he cannot set deadline.

“The NDA?government at the Centre had changed the land acquisition norms, which led to a delay of one year,” he said.

Replying to questions raised in the meeting, he said Yettinahole would not be part of the Netravathi diversion scheme. Experts from Isro, IISc and other organisations have confirmed water availability in Yettinahole to supply 24 tmc ft.