A scientist from Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has said that the Yettinaholey river diversion project will be ecologically disastrous and economically unviable.

In an open letter to the Chief Minister, the coordinator of Energy and Wetlands Research Group in Centre for Ecological Sciences of IISc, TV Ramachandra has said the purpose of supplying water to parched eastern region of Karnataka would not materialise due to insufficient water yield in the catchment.

‘Unrealistic assumptions’ On the detailed project report (DPR) prepared by the Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd, he said the report is based on unrealistic assumptions and manipulation of water yield.

The DPR proposes to divert 24 tmcft of water from Yettinaholey in Sakleshpur taluk of Hassan district to districts such as Kolar and Chikballapur in eastern part of Karnataka. However, a research conducted by Ramachandra’s team puts the total availability of water at 9.55 tmcft.

He said the DPR proposal is contrary to the principles of water sustainability and resiliency of water bodies.

(Yettinaholey is one of the tributaries of west-flowing Nethravathi River – the lifeline of Dakshina Kannada district.)

Lose-lose situation Ramachandra, who is a Fellow of Indian Association of Hydrologists, said the Yettinaholey project, if implemented, will not help either the residents of arid regions such as Chikballapur, Kolar and Tumkur, or local people in the river basin. Residents of Yettinaholey catchment would be deprived of their share of water, while people in the arid regions would only get to see dry canals.

He said that implementation of Yettinaholey project would lead to water scarcity in Hassan and Mangaluru, and will not benefit Chikballapur and Kolar. Livelihood of Yettinaholey catchment would be affected severely due to lowered agricultural and fisheries yield, he said.

Urging the Chief Minister to drop the Yettinaholey project, Ramachandra said: “This would save the State from spending unnecessarily on the project which is bound to fail due to lack of water.”

Alternatives suggested In fact, he said that the parched districts such as Kolar and Chikballapur districts have more than 50 tmcft of water that can meet the demand in the region, provided integrated management of natural resources is done now.

He suggested that decentralised water harvesting through a series of lakes and tanks, and rejuvenation and restoration of lakes and ponds be thought of for the integrated management of water.

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