Minister against plan to tap underground water resources

 Difference have surfaced in the Siddaramaiah government over a proposal mooted by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department to extract water from underground rivers by going in for deep subterranean exploration.

“Such projects disturb the ecological balance. We should not go against nature,”  Minor Irrigation Minister T B Jayachandra told reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday. 

The project named “Pathalaganga”  has been proposed by RDPR department in association with the India unit of US-based company WaterQuest Hydroresources Management. The move comes at a time when several parts of the state are reeling under severe drinking water shortage due the long-prevailing drought.

The State Cabinet is yet to give its clearance for the project. Jayachandra said the groundwater table in several pockets of the state has been severely depleted due to over exploitation. Instead, measures can be taken to recharge the groundwater table by constructing check dams and going in for rain water harvesting. The company has proposed to locate underground hydrological resources hundreds of feet below the ground level and use its deep-drilling expertise to extract water. It has proposed to set up 10 such units at different locations in the state. Each unit will cost of Rs 12.48 crore.

Replying to queries, Jayachandra said a detailed project report (DPR) for the Rs 5,912-crore Mekedatu drinking water project that involves building a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery in Chamarajanagar district will be finalised within the next 15 days.

He said the DPR is being prepared in such a way as to ensure that the project does not face any legal hurdles. The government will seek clearances from the Supreme Court, Central Water Commission and Ministry of Environment and Forests, he added.