JOIN USKarnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board has prepared a report on Bethri water project to supply water from river Cauvery to Madikeri. The report has been sent to the Madikeri CMC for approval.
Bethri project was used for political purpose for the last several years. To take up the work on detailed project report for the Bethri project, the council nod is essential. As a result, the project is likely to be discussed in the CMC meeting on November 25. At present, Congress is ruling the CMC. Out of 23 members, the Congress has 10, BJP—8, SDPI—4 and JD(S)—1 members.
About project
River Cauvery takes its birth in Talacauvery situated on the foothills of Brahmagiri. From Bhagamandala, it flows to Bethri-Siddapura-Kushalnagar before reaching Mysuru. Bethri is situated 22-km from Madikeri. Supplying water from Bethri to Madikeri is the project. The project also aims at supplying water to eight villages including Kaggodlu, Biligeri, Badaga, Moornadu, Hakathuru, and Mekeri. Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board engineers will prepared a detailed project report.
Estimate
According to sources, the project was initiated when Gundurao was the Chief Minister. The estimated cost of the project was Rs 1.23 crore. The estimated cost escalated to Rs 15 crore when S M Krishna was the chief minister. Inspite of it, the project never took off. Neither the coalition government nor the BJP government showed any interest in the implementation of Bethri project. Demanding the implementation of the project, Congress had staged a protest several times in the past. However, the BJP members in the council never allowed them to implement the project.
The BJP government gave nod for the Kundamestri project in 2010. With the Congress government in the State, the project has once again come to limelight. In fact, during his visit to Bethri, Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake had promised to start the project and had directed Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board engineer prepare a DPR. It is estimated that the project cost would be Rs 155.65 crore. Of which, 60 per cent of the share will be borne by the State government (Rs 93.39 crore), 30 per cent as loan from financial institutions (Rs 46.69 crore) and 10 per cent by the local body (Rs 15.56 crore).