The Hindu : AP request: State has to meet its requirements first, says Patil

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

AP request: State has to meet its requirements first, says Patil

By Our Special Correspondent

HUBLI Sept. 16. H.K. Patil, Minister for Water Resources, has said that the State has never hesitated to help neighbouring States meet their drinking water requirements.

The Minister was responding to questions on the proposed visit of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, to Karnataka to seek the release of water. Mr. Patil told The Hindu that as far as the demand for water was concerned, Karnataka would have to meet its requirements first before considering requests from other States. He declined to comment on reports that Mr. Naidu wanted about 30 tmcft. of water to be released from the Alamatti Reservoir of the Upper Krishna Project.

To another question, he said Karnataka had not acted on a similar request made last year by Andhra Pradesh. First, the quantum of water sought was more than what was required for drinking requirements and, second, the water-level in the Jurala and the Nagarjunasagar reservoirs in that State was comfortable.

Mr. Patil said the State Government had been planning to complete 100 barrages under the "Namma Bhandhara" scheme evolved by the State Government to construct small barrages.

The stakeholders, including industries, the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, and the municipalities were required to share 25 per cent of the cost, with the Government-owned Karnataka Neeravari Nigam contributing the rest of the amount.

Mr. Patil said that more than 300 sites had been identified throughout the State where the barrages with a storage capacity of more than 0.5 tmcft. could be constructed.

Already, he said, 170 proposals had been received for the consideration of the State Government with the stakeholders willing to make their contribution.

The Government was determined to complete 100 of them before March.

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