Belagavi MP Jagdish Shettar has confirmed that the Irrigation Department has not granted permission to draw water from the Hidkal Reservoir for the Dharwad Industrial Estate. The revelation came after a meeting with former mayor Shivaji Sunthkar and former corporator Deepak Vaghela, who approached Shettar regarding the issue.
Shettar stated that while the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) had proposed the project, the Irrigation Department had not approved it. Expressing strong opposition, he warned that the region could suffer significant water shortages if Belagavi residents do not resist the plan.
The controversy stems from reports that 0.58 TMC of Hidkal water is being allocated to Dharwad, allegedly without the state government’s approval. Shettar, originally from Hubballi but currently representing Belagavi, has raised concerns about how the project advanced without official clearance.
Despite the lack of permission, work on laying a water channel from Hidkal to Dharwad has reportedly begun. Shettar, after seeking clarification from the Irrigation Department, was informed that no authorization had been granted. The future of the scheme now hinges on how strongly Belagavi residents oppose it.
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