In the name of providing drinking water for Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts, the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (KNNL) is allowing the Yettinahole integrated drinking water project despite ‘grave violations of the revenue laws’.
The agencies, which have bagged work on the first phase of the project worth over Rs. 3,000 crore, have set up stockyards and pipe fabrication units in agricultural lands ignoring the laws.
On Sunday, this reporter visited Sattigala village, where the agencies have set up a pipe fabrication unit adjacent to a government primary school. The companies have acquired the land for 11 months by paying between Rs. 70,000 and Rs. 90,000 per acre annually. Similarly in Hebbasale village, around 26 acres of agricultural land has been taken over by the agencies to set up another unit. Such units are functioning in about seven other places in the taluk.
Nowhere have the agencies obtained clearance from the Revenue Department to utilise agricultural land for non-agricultural purpose.
“What they are doing is completely illegal. They can’t set up units without seeking conversion of land use,” said S.S. Madhukeshwar, Assistant Commissioner of Sakleshpur sub-division.
The contractors had to seek temporary conversion, which could be granted by the Assistant Commissioner, in case of private land. They have not followed the norms while setting up stockyards and pipe fabrication units, he said. “I have issued directions to the KNNL engineers to ensure that work continues in accordance with the law,” Mr. Madhukeshwar told The Hindu .
