Bengaluru: Even as people of coastal Karnataka are fighting tooth and nail to stop Yettinahole project, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily has said that the first phase of the much opposed project will be over by 2018.
Addressing a gathering in Bengaluru, Moily said that all the impediments for the project have been cleared and electricity connection to the first pump house will be made available with consent from the KPTCL and other authorities concerned.
“The problems pertaining forest department too have been sorted out,” he said adding that there was a need for 124 acres of land for Phase I of the project and about 51 acres of land have been acquired from farmers after giving them proper compensation. For the remaining land the DC has issued notices and the acquisition process will begin soon.
“Since it is a drinking water project, the farmers here have been generous enough to voluntarily hand over the land for the project,” he said.
Protests due to lack of knowledge
Attacking the activists who have been staging stir against the Yettinahole project, Moily said that it is only the half-baked knowledge of the activists which is making them protest against the project.
“Most of the organisations, which have studied the project are saying that 24TMC water is available. However, water will not be pumped throughout the year. It is only during June to October that water will be pumped to parched regions of the state,” he said.
Completely Scientific
Project Engineer Venugopal, addressing the gathering said that the Central CWC, Hydrology Institute from Belagavi and various other organisations have made in-depth study of the project and then ascertained the availability of water- ie-24 TMC during monsoon.
“There will be eight barrages in the project, where first three barrages will be built at Yettinahole, fourth and fifth barrages will come up at Kadumanehole, sixth barrage will come up at Karihole, seventh barrage will be at Hongadahalla and eighth barrage will be at lower part of Yettinahole,” he said.
