The Karnataka government will soon make a law to stop theft of water from irrigation canals in the state. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has given information in this regard.
Deputy CM Shivkumar termed the theft of water from irrigation canals as a big problem and said that the bill in this regard is almost ready. The government will introduce the bill in the assembly within a week. Shivkumar is also the water resources minister of the state.
Responding to a question by BJP MLA from Jamkhandi Jagadish Shivayya Gudagunti during the ‘Question Hour’, Shivakumar said that water theft is a big problem in districts like Mandya, Hassan, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi which have irrigation projects. Due to which water is not reaching the last areas.
Expressing concern over the Yettinahole project, the Deputy CM said that water is being drawn from the canals using sacks or motors. He said, ‘The government has already spent Rs 25,000 crore on this project. I fear that water will not reach the last mile.’
The Deputy Chief Minister further said that the Yettinahole project aims to meet the drinking water demands of Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Ramanagara and parts of Bengaluru Urban districts.
Shivakumar also appealed to political and public leaders to work in their respective areas or constituencies to stop theft of water from canals.
A month ago, two people died after drinking contaminated water
Two people died a few days ago due to contaminated water in Chinnenahalli village of Tumkuru district of Karnataka. It is said that a fair was organized in Chinnenahalli village on 10 June. During this time, drinking water was arranged from the water tank there. It is said that hundreds of people fell ill after drinking this water. Let us tell you that Home Minister G. Parameshwara is in charge of Tumkuru district.
