Bengaluru – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said at the launch of a new lake‑filling drive that the state is “leading Asia” in water restoration projects. “Water keeps civilisation alive,” the CM said, highlighting the many programmes that raise awareness of water use and groundwater recharge.
The event, called Neeriddare Naale (“If there is water, there is tomorrow”), was hosted by the Minor Irrigation Department. Siddaramaiah urged residents to understand how precious water is and to act wisely.
Groundwater use and shortages
The CM explained that Karnataka’s private wells—about 3.7 million borewells—draw more water than the national average. Nearly all taluks, except 144, are facing water shortages. When many farmers turn their eyes to the hills to irrigate, the state must act.
To confront this problem, the local government has released the KC Valley Project. It builds and expands lakes in the Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts, boosting groundwater recharge. While the scheme enjoys the support of many local communities, some residents have opposed the project.
In key districts—Chikkaballapur, Doddaballapur, Tumakuru and Bengaluru Rural—the state has spent thousands of crores of rupees to raise underground water levels. The deputy chief minister, D.K. Shivakumar, said that the Upper Krishna Project will need ₹2 lakh crore, with ₹78,000 crore earmarked to pay farmers for land acquisition.
Safety and future plans
The CM stressed that the state is ready to protect all reservoirs. He cited quick repairs after a gate on the Tungabhadra dam failed—fixed within eight days—and reiterated full commitment to safety protocols.
He also spoke about the welfare of Karnataka farmers. “We will not let other states block our water rights,” he told a crowd that included students from Mumbai, northern India and Tamil Nadu who have come to Bengaluru to study. “Our aim is to help everyone, not to punish anyone.”
Siddaramaiah’s message underlined a vision: to harness water responsibly, protect lakes, and keep the rivers and farms in Karnataka running strong.
Source: ianslive
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