Minister for Water Resources Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that he had requested the Maharashtra government to release 4 tmcft of water each from Varna and Ujani dams to Krishna and Bhima rivers for agricultural operations and drinking purpose in the northern parts of the State.
Replying to Siddu Savadi (Bharatiya Janata Party) in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Bommai said the neighbouring State in return had asked for water from Narayanapur dam through Indi for drinking purpose in Solapur and Akkalakote. While agreeing to pay for the water to be released from two dams, the Minister said that he would think over obliging Maharashtra after studying the technical feasibility. Moreover, people in the State required water and the State could not afford to incur loss due to evaporation.
Mr. Bommai said that he was visiting Maharashtra in a few days to discuss the issue with his counterpart over there.
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Deputy Leader of Congress T.B. Jayachandra enquired on what initiatives had been made for utilising the extra water Karnataka got after raising the level of the Alamatti dam to 524.25 ft. Mr. Bommai said that survey had to be done and one lakh acres of land which would be merged was to be acquired for which huge amount was required. The government would consult legal experts and bring it before the Cabinet for approval.
After raising the level, the Minister said, water could be supplied to Chitradurga, Tumkur districts and up to Kolar district. “We will revisit these issues after receiving the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal orders.” The Minister promised Rudresha Gowda (Congress) that a few towns in Chickmagalur district would also get water.