Karnataka now wants to modify Mekedatu plan to reduce forest submergence

The State is now thinking of having a smaller reservoir with a capacity of 5 to 10 tmcft at Mekedatu

Close on the heels of opposition from the Forest Department to its proposal for building a balancing reservoir at Mekedatu across Cauvery river for providing drinking water to Bengaluru, the Karnataka Water Resources Department has decided to modify it’s plan to reduce the submergence of large tracts of forests.

Instead of its earlier plans of having a 45 tmcft capacity balancing reservoir, the State is now thinking of having a smaller reservoir with a capacity of 5 to 10 tmcft at Mekedatu. But it will make up for the reduction in capacity by linking the proposed balancing reservoir with series of other small reservoirs which will serve as storage points, according to Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil.

The Minister told presspersons in Bengaluru on Tuesday that there would be no reduction in the quantum of water proposed to be used for drinking water purpose when the storage in small reservoirs is considered. He said water from the balancing reservoir would be pumped into various other smaller reservoirs such as Kanva, Thippagondanahalli, Hessarghatta and Manchanabele located en route Bengaluru city. As many as 22 small reservoirs had been identified for linking with the Mekedatu balancing reservoir, he said.

Pointing out that the project would require submergence of about 2,600 acres of forest land if the capacity of the balancing reservoir at Mekedatu was kept at around 45 tmcft, the Minister said it was possible to reduce the extent of submergence by distributing water storage among different reservoirs by linking them with the balancing reservoir, instead of opting for a big balancing reservoir at Mekedatu.

Reiterating that a global Expression of Interest had been called by the Water Resources Department for preparing a Detailed Project Report, he said the exact design and nature of the project would be available after the completion of DPR.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden of Karnataka, Vinay Luthra, had recently observed that the proposed project would cut through the elephant corridor. He had indicated his Department’s opposition to the proposed project.

Meanwhile, the Minister sought to downplay the opposition of the neighbouring Tamil Nadu to the proposed Mekedatu project by observing that Karnataka was well within its rights to use its share of water.