DK Shivakumar inspects dry run of first phase of Yettinahole project in Sakleshpur

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar inspects the dry run of the first phase of Yettinahole drinking water project in Sakaleshpur taluk on Wednesday. | Photo credit: PRAKASH HASSAN

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the Minister for Water Resources, on Wednesday inaugurated the dry run of the first phase of the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project at Kumbaradi in Sakleshpur taluk.

The Deputy Chief Minister pressed the button to pump water from weir 1 in Kumbaradi Coffee Estate village by taking the name of deity Chamundeshwari. Mr. Shivakumar said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would inaugurate the work and he had only initiated the dry run of the first phase.

“This is a very ambitious project. I have seen the videos and photos of the test. I have come here to inspect it personally. The test to lift water from five of the eight weirs has been completed. Water is being lifted at a rate of 1,500 cubic feet per second,” he said.

The water lifted from weirs 1, 2, 4 and 5 would reach chamber 4 and from there be discharged into the gravity channel. The water and electricity supply works, which started in 2014, have been completed. Previously, the pre-commissioning test activities were carried out to check the water flow.

“The completion of the project was delayed due to technical issues. There is also a problem with deforestation. We will take care of it. We will complete the project by March 2027,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar inspects the dry run of the first phase of Yettinahole drinking water project in Sakaleshpur taluk on Wednesday. | Photo credit: PRAKASH HASSAN

The project, estimated to cost Rs 23,251.66 crore, envisages transfer of 24.01 tmcft of water available during monsoon from Yettinahole, Kadumanehole, Kerihole and Hongada Halla in the Western Ghats of Sakleshpur taluk to drought prone areas.

Mr. Shivakumar inspected the works along with senior officials and elected representatives. Planning Minister D. Sudhakar, MPs KM Shivalinge Gowda, Sharath Bachche Gowda, Cement Manju, Deputy Chief Secretary Gourav Gupta, Visvesaraya Jala Nigam MD Sannachittaiah, Hassan DC C. Sathyabhama and others were present.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar inspects the dry run of the first phase of Yettinahole drinking water project in Sakaleshpur taluk on Wednesday. | Photo credit: PRAKASH HASSAN

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar inspects the dry run of the first phase of Yettinahole drinking water project in Sakaleshpur taluk on Wednesday. | Photo credit: PRAKASH HASSAN