BANGALORE: Bijapur and Bagalkot districts of North Karnataka are likely to remain perennially drought-prone regions if the present trend of allocating the Krishna basin river water to industries continues.The state government, during the much publicised Global Investors Meet (GIM) held last year, stated to supply over 31.05 TMC of water to various MNCs who have shown keen interests to set up power and steel plants. Both the districts, despite access to five major rivers are the worst drought-prone regions in the state. Despite completion of over four decades since the foundation stone was laid for the Almatti reservoir, both districts, however, remain drought-hit as no major projects were planned under the Upper Krishna’s first and second phase projects.However, the people of the districts have seen a ray of hope when Justice Brijeshkumar-headed second tribunal on the Krishna Water Dispute had earmarked about 130.893 TMC of water under the Upper Krishna State-3 projects.The tribunal had awarded its decision recently and allocated 54.43 TMC of water to Mulwad lift irrigation, 20.789 TMC to Chimmalagi lift irrigation, 18.982 TMC to NRBC, 11.56 TMC to projects in Koppal district, 8.054 TMC of water under Jewargi, Mulwad and Shahapur Branch Canal projects and 5.15 TMC of water to the projects under Bhima basin.The people of the two districts have expressed apprehension over completion of all these projects as the state, even before taking any measure to implement the projects, have started allocating water to the industries.“If the attitude of the state government does not change in favour of providing water for irrigating the entire region which is blessed with rich fertile land in the entire nation, will remain to be a barren area,” Congress legislator M B Patil said.In a letter submitted recently to Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, the Congress legislator had urged to give priority for irrigation and channelise the Krishna water to the thirsty.In his letter to the CM, M B Patil has stated that the state government during its GIM held last year had agreed to supply water among others including to R M Steels Koppal 3.19 TMC of Krishna water followed by NTPC Kudagi (5.20 TMC), SE Steels (4.35 TMC), Arcellor Mittal (2.33 TMC), M/s Thungabharda, Badami (2.68 TMC). “If this trend continues, the people of the two districts will be deprive of Krishna water for irrigation,” he said. He urged the state to give priority to promote more agri-related industries including that of food processing, sugar mills and eco-friendly units.
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