Karnataka - Hassan   

Halebeedu and Madihalli Hoblis are fluoride hit

Hassan: Forty villages in Halebeedu Hobli in Belur Taluk and 36 villages in Madihalli Hobli that borders between Belur and Arasikere Taluk are fluoride-affected. Although the Yagachi River flows at a distance of 20 km from Halebeedu and Madihalli towns, people of these areas do not get safe drinking water. Water in the borewells is high in fluoride content.

Although the residents have given several representations to elected representatives to address the problem, none of them have taken any interest. Though they make promises, they have not acted on it.

According to villager residents, the Yagachi reservoir comes under the Cauvery basin and to source drinking water from there, permission from the Cauvery Tribunal is necessary. A proposal to this effect has been sent to the Government. It envisages drawing water to the two hoblis by filling up 13 irrigation tanks that are there between the hoblis and the river. If the Halebeedu tank is linked to the Yagachi reservoir, then water would flow to remaining 12 tanks through gravity. This would also improve groundwater level in the region which would facilitate cultivation of crops and vegetables. If water from the Yagachi reservoir is released at the rate of 500 cusecs to Halebeedu tank, all the 76 villages would get drinking water. Drinking water problem would be solved once and for all. What is lacking is the political will.

On the other hand, Chikmagalur is 25 km from Belur and a separate pipeline is drawn from the Yagachi River that meets the drinking water demand of Chikmagalur town. Work is also in progress for providing drinking water to Arasikere town through the Yagachi River.

When G Putttaswamy Gowda was the MP from Hassan, he announced at a public function in Halebeedu that he would commit suicide by hanging if he failed to get water to Halebeedu and Madihalli. Not to be left behind, the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda announced that it was he who had got sanction for the construction of the Yagachi reservoir and that he would get water to both places from there.

About three years ago, B.S. Yeddyurappa who was Opposition leader then, went on a ‘padayatra’ from Madihalli to Belur demanding the implementation of the project. Now, when he is the Chief Minister he is yet to take steps to solve the water problem of these villages.

During his recent visit to Belur, Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj, on receiving a memorandum from residents of the villages with regard to fluoride-hit villages, he said he would look into the matter.

Now the residents of Halebeedu Hobli and Madihalli Hobli are hoping that the Governor would keep up his promise.

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