The induction of M B Patil into the cabinet and allotment of the water resources portfolio to him has raised the hopes of people in North Karnataka. They are hoping that all the irrigation projects which are progressing at a snail's pace will pick up speed and be completed at the earliest.
M B Patil, who has been elected from Babaleshwar in Bijapur district has a good knowledge of the various irrigation projects. He also has the mind to seek guidance from experts like RDPR minister H K Patil and others.
However, the road ahead for Patil is not smooth. He has to tackle issues that have legal implications. All the major irrigation projects, including the Krishna and Cauvery are entangled in one or the other legal complication. The Kalasa-Banduri nala project which aims to provide drinking water to Hubli-Dharwad, Nargund, Navalgund, Ron, Badami and other taluks is the latest issue in water dispute between Karnataka and Goa.
Farmers' organisations have been agitating over the years as successive governments have been unable to prepare plans on using the Krishna waters allocated by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal.
The tribunal awarded 911 tmcft of water to Karnataka, 666 tmcft to Maharashtra and 1,001 tmcft to Andhra Pradesh. It will next review allocation of water in 2050.
While the politicians in Andhra Pradesh have been wise enough to keep aside their political differences and stay united in using its share of the water by borrowing funds from nationalised banks, Karnataka is yet to prepare plans on using the 280 tmcft of water, farmers allege.
Farmers' leader Maruti Manpade has been pressing successive governments to see adequate funds are raised from the Centre and the works in the Krishna basin are taken up.
Projects such as increasing the storage level at Alamatti dam to 524 ft would help use at least 100 tmcft more of water and irrigate parched districts of north Karnataka.
Manpade urged new minister M B Patil to ensure adequate power supply to lift irrigation projects.
Vijaykumar Kulkarni who has been fighting for the implementation of the Kalasa Banduri Nala said M B Patil should take all the stake holders into confidence and solve the legal complications by holding talks with the concerned states. The Rs. 6,000-crore Upper Bhadra project, aimed at irrigating around 1.7 lakh hectares in Chitradurga, Chikmagalur, Tumkur and Kolar districts and release of water from Maharastra to River Bhima are other works crying for attention.
On his part M B Patil said both Krishna and Cauvery were like two eyes of Karnataka and he would not discriminate between the two projects as far as solving the problems related to the two. He said he would discuss with senior officials and legal experts to resolve the issues.
