The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka to form expert panel on interlinking rivers

Interlinking
The districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have 13 rivers flowing through them.
Drinking water, power and irrigation are the priority areas for the people in these two districts.

MR K.S. ESHWARAPPA

Mangalore , Aug. 23

The Karnataka Government has decided to form an expert committee to look into the possibilities of interlinking rivers in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Expert panel

Addressing presspersons after convening a high-level meeting at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka at Surathkal in Mangalore taluk on Wednesday, the Karnataka Water Resources Minister, Mr K.S. Eshwarappa, said several experts have given their suggestions on interlinking of rivers in these two districts.

Following this, the Government has decided to form an expert panel to study the feasibility of such a proposal.

The committee will also consider the suggestions of other committees on interlinking of rivers. Already two meetings have been held on interlinking of rivers in these two districts, he said.

Priority areas

Earlier participating in the meeting, the Karnataka Medical Education Minister and Udupi district in-charge, Dr V.S. Achar, said drinking water, power and irrigation are the priority areas for the people in these two districts.

As many as 13 rivers flow through these districts and a solution should be found to meet the demands in these priority areas.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr A.G. Kodgi of Bharatiya Kisan Sangha said the sangha has prepared a plan - `Sowbhagya Sanjeevini' - on interlinking of rivers in these two districts.

The plan proposes to improve water supply situation for drinking and irrigation purposes and make provision for producing hydroelectric power. If implemented, the programme will help control floods during the monsoon and help boost tourism in the region.

Other speakers

Mr K.C. Reddy, an irrigation expert, said some of the technical issues would have to be sorted out while taking up such projects.

Mr Upendra Hosabettu, fishermen leader, said interests of fishermen should be taken into consideration before the implementation of any such project.

Prof S.G. Mayya of NITK suggested that an independent river basin development programme be adopted for each river. Attention should be given for the rejuvenation of ponds and lakes in the region and for construction of check dams and vented dams for rivers.

Mr Yogish Bhat, Mangalore MLA, said priority should be given for the construction of vented dams to help tackle water scarcity during summer.

Senior officials from Water Resources Department attended the meeting.

Mr B. Nagaraja Shetty, Karnataka Fisheries Minister, and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge, were present.