Release of water from Yagachi reservoir to Hassan stopped

A number of pro-farmer and other organisations, who had called for a bandh in Belur on Tuesday, against the release of water from Yagachi reservoir in Belur to Hassan city, succeeded in pressurising officials to stop releasing water from the reservoir. Around 1 p.m., the officials stopped the water, as the protesters, led by Y.N. Rudresh Gowda, Belur MLA, marched to the dam and demanded that the release of water is stopped immediately.

“We have stopped the release of water from the reservoir, following the protest. As per the earlier schedule, we were to release water at the rate of 450 cusecs from the reservoir. However, in the last three days around water was released at the rate of 60 cusecs. This has not yet reached the Haluvagilu receiving point, near Hassan, as the distance is about 38 km,” said Rangaswamy, Assistant Engineer of Yagachi project.

The officials took the decision to release water from the reservoir to Hassan, following a visit by Lok Sabha member and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, along with senior officers of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam, on Saturday. Considering the acute shortage of drinking water in Hassan city, the officers decided to release water at the rate of 450 cusecs from the reservoir. However, this decision attracted opposition from several organisations, who called for a bandh on Tuesday.

As of now, the live storage in the reservoir is 0.366 tmc. Residents of Belur, parts of Chikkamagaluru and Arsikere are dependant on the reservoir for drinking water. Every day, water is released at the rate of 13.2 cusecs to cater to drinking water needs in these areas. “Even after providing this amount every day till June 30 this year, water, at the rate of 900 cusecs (live storage), will be left in the reservoir. Residents of 10 wards in Hassan city are down stream of Yagachi and we have to meet their needs. Even if water at the rate of 450 cusecs is set aside for Hassan, residents of Belur will not face any shortage. However, the organisations staged a protest and we were asked to stop the release of water,” Mr. Rangaswamy said.

Yagachi reservoir has been built with a total capacity of 3.603 tmc. In the past too, water has been drawn from the reservoir for Hassan city.