A Right to Information (RTI) request has revealed that significantly more water than officially sanctioned has been released from the Hidkal Reservoir to industrial areas, raising serious concerns over water management and public welfare.
The revelation came through an RTI filed by Sujit Mulgund. The data provided by the Assistant Executive Engineer of Subdivision-2, CBC, Hidkal Dam, under Karnataka Neeravari Nigam, indicates that the government has quietly allowed excess water supply to industries—more than double the permitted amount—despite official claims suggesting otherwise.
Originally, only 0.10 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of water from the reservoir was designated for industrial use, as per the project’s guidelines. However, 0.229 TMC has already been released, exceeding the sanctioned limit by a large margin.
Established in 1961, the Hidkal Dam was meant exclusively for irrigation and drinking water. Diverting additional water to industries has triggered alarm, especially as numerous villages across Belagavi, Bagalkot, and Vijayapura depend on the reservoir for their drinking needs. Many areas already rely on water tankers during the summer, and locals are questioning the wisdom of prioritizing industrial supply over basic public needs.
Experts and irrigation activists have slammed the move as a violation of the National Water Policy, 2011, which gives the highest priority to drinking water and the lowest to industrial use. With water levels expected to drop, the decision could endanger both drinking water access and agricultural output, potentially leading to drought-like conditions.
“This project wasn’t built to benefit just a few industries. It sustains life in hundreds of villages,” Mulagund emphasized.
The public is now demanding transparency and accountability. Citizens and activists have called on the government to issue a detailed clarification and to take strict action against officials responsible for the unauthorized diversion. If left unaddressed, the issue could trigger widespread public protests.
Which industries area was data required