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Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
RTI revelation exposes massive over-allocation of Hidkal dam water to industries
Belagavi: In a significant development that could intensify the ongoing opposition to the diversion of Hidkal Dam water to industries in Hubballi-Dharwad, activist and whistleblower Sujit Mulgund unveiled official documents revealing that industrial units received nearly 22 times more water than the original allocation. Mulgund shared a letter from the assistant executive engineer of the Karnataka Niravari Nigam Limited (KNNL), CBC subdivision No. 2, dated July 6, 2024. The letter, addressed to the executive engineer, discloses that only 0.1 tmcft of water was initially allocated to industries under the project report. However, the allocation surged to 0.2 tmcft gradually, and there is an additional fresh demand of 0.5 tmcft under the Bengaluru-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project, part of the Suvarna Karnataka Corridor initiative. Crucially, the letter indicates that the excess allocation already far surpassed the sanctioned limit. If the additional 0.5 tmcft is approved, it would come at the cost of irrigation water meant for farmers, a point likely to fuel further unrest among farming communities. Last month, the Karnataka govt approved the controversial diversion of 0.5 tmcft from Hidkal Dam to industrial areas in Hubballi-Dharwad, sparking widespread protests across Belagavi and neighbouring districts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Farmers and civil society groups decried the move, arguing it threatens their livelihood and violates the dam's original purpose. Earlier, water resources minister MB Patil claimed that the water being diverted was within the allocated limits. However, Mulgund's findings—obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act—contradict the minister's statement. Pipeline construction for the water diversion began over four months ago—without formal approval, tenders, or even informing the local administration, including district minister Satish Jarkiholi. The work only came to light when local farmers discovered pipelines being laid across their fields. In response, several organisations launched protests under the slogan 'Namma Neeru, Namma Hakku', prompting the Belagavi DC to halt the work temporarily. Despite the opposition, the project resumed following a green signal from the state cabinet. Activist Mulgund sought further details under RTI—including the tender cost, official approvals, and progress reports—but KNNL denied the information, citing confidentiality. Constructed in 1961 and named after former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Hidkal dam was built to provide irrigation and drinking water. Though it has a storage capacity of 51 tmcft, effective availability is only around 44 tmcft due to siltation and unusable reserves. Speaking to the TOI, Mulgund criticised the lack of transparency. "The RTI documents clearly prove that more water has already been diverted to industries than originally sanctioned. Any additional diversion will directly impact farmers in Belagavi, Bagalkot and Vijayapura," he said.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru rains bring city to standstill, Manyata Tech Park turns into water park again
Bengaluru was brought to its knees on Tuesday evening after intense rainfall led to widespread waterlogging and massive traffic disruptions across the city. The downpour, one of the heaviest in recent memory, laid bare the fragile state of the city's infrastructure yet again, especially during extreme weather events. Also Read - Bomb hoax delays Bengaluru-bound Karnataka Express by 3 hours, Four held for questioning Several arterial roads, particularly in east Bengaluru, were submerged, causing long traffic snarls as commuters struggled to reach home. The chaos began during peak office hours, with vehicles stuck in knee-deep water in areas like Whitefield, Marathahalli, Banaswadi and Hebbal. Motorists were forced to wade through inundated streets, while rain continued to pour relentlessly. In response, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) deployed teams to drain the water from affected roads. Bengaluru Traffic Police also stepped in to manage the gridlock and direct traffic flow in the worst-hit areas. One of the most severely affected zones was Manyata Tech Park, which once again turned into a flood zone. Videos shared by tech workers on social media showed roads within the park submerged under several inches of water. The recurring issue triggered sharp reactions online. 'Another year, same story! Heavy rains = waterlogging at Manyata Tech Park. Roads flooded, commutes ruined, productivity hampered. How long will this go on?' posted one user on X, tagging BBMP and Embassy REIT. Another user sarcastically remarked, 'Manyata Tech Park on sunny days and water park on rainy days. Thanks to our brilliant urban planners and the unchecked real estate lobby.' Private weather blogger Namma Karnataka Weather (@namma_vjy) reported that East Banaswadi saw the highest rainfall at 37.5 mm, followed by HAL Airport (35 mm), Cottonpete (25.5 mm), and Marathahalli (24.5 mm). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed these reports and has issued a yellow alert for the coming days. The forecast warns of light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–50 kmph. Due to the rain, Bengaluru's maximum temperature dropped to 32°C, which is 1.3°C below the seasonal average, providing temporary relief from the summer heat — but at the cost of major inconvenience. As the city braces for more rain in the coming days, residents are once again left questioning the state of urban planning, drainage infrastructure, and political will to address these recurring monsoon woes.
