H.D. Kumaraswamy, former Chief Minister and JD(S) State president, has said the State government should complete the work on Yettinahole drinking water project, intended to provide water for dry areas of Kolar, Chickballapur, Tumakuru, Bengaluru Rural, and Ramanagaram districts, at the earliest.
He was speaking to presspersons after interacting with officers concerned with the Yettinahole project at Kadumane estate in Sakleshpur taluk on Tuesday.
People in these dry areas have been eagerly waiting for the early completion of the project. “When the foundation stone was laid for the project, the Chief Minister had assured the public that it would be completed in three years. The pace at which the work has been going is highly disappointing. The public may have to wait for many more years to enjoy the benefits of the project,” he said.
Rising cost
The delay in implementing the project might enhance the project cost too, he said, and added that the project cost had already gone up from ₹8,800 crore to ₹13,000 crore. If it was further delayed, the project would require more money. “Instead of releasing the funds in bits and pieces, the government should release the amount in bulk so that the work can be completed at a fast pace,” he said.
Further, he alleged the government lacked the interest to complete the project within a short duration, stating that the land acquisition process had been delayed.
“The land purchase process had not yet begun, though the State cabinet took a decision to this effect six months ago. The farmers who lose land should get a good package as relief,” he said.
Mr. Kumaraswamy made it clear that he would not raise the issue of illegalities in implementing the project with the concerned authorities. “I am aware of certain violations in the execution of the project. But, I am not going to raise the violations as this might cause further delay in the execution of the project,” the former CM said.
Site visits
Later, along with other JD(S) MLAs, he visited project works at Kadumane, Maranahalli, Aluvalli, Kadagaravalli, and Kappalli villages.
JD(S) MLAs H.D. Revanna (Holenarasipur), H.K. Kumaraswamy (Alur-Sakleshpur), H.S. Prakash (Hassan), K.M. Shivalinge Gowda (Arsikere), K.S. Manjunath (Malur), M. Rajanna (Shidlaghatta), Krishna Reddy (Chintamani), Suresh Babu (Chikkanayakanahalli), Krishnappa (Turuvekere), and MLCs Kantharaj and Chowdareddy, and others accompanied him on his visits to the project site.
