Karnataka - Bangalore   

Allocation of river waters to private units opposed

BANGALORE: The Opposition in the Legislative Council on Wednesday took exception to allocating Krishna waters to private industries, especially steel industries, at a time when several villages in Krishna Basin itself were facing drinking water shortage.

Major and Medium Irrigation Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he would convene a meeting of legislators of the Krishna Basin area, industrialists and officials of Irrigation Department to discuss the allocation of water.

The issue came up when Mr. Bommai was replying to Janata Dal (U) member M. P. Nadagouda during question hour. The Minister said that 2.34 tmcft of water each had been allocated to Jindal Steel Works Limited (from Narayanpur Dam) and R.N.S. Steel Limited (from Alamatti Dam), while Messrs X-India had been given 1.16 tmcft of water (from Alamatti Dam). This was in addition to allocation of water to eight sugar factories and three thermal power generating stations.

The members said they were not against allocating water to power generating stations and sugar mills as they benefited the State as well as farmers. But their objection was to the allocation of water to private steel industries which were not even located in Krishna Basin. Pointing out that several villages in the Krishna Basin were not getting water even for drinking, Mr. Nadagouda wondered how the Government could justify its action.

Mr. Bommai explained that of 2.5 per cent of the entire water storage had been earmarked for industrial purpose as per the norms followed in all irrigation projects. The total allocation made to the industries from Krishna waters was well within the total quota of water earmarked for units.

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